Bristol woman posts request for a clairvoyant to make decisions for her – can you help?

We get some truly quirky requests through Bark.com sometimes, and we’re always more than happy to try and help find our customers the right professional for them, no matter how weird their request is. Recently a women from Bristol posted a request in our clairvoyant category, asking for a spiritual person to make all of her decisions for her.

This isn’t a service that our clairvoyants/psychics/spiritual guides normally provide – however, we’re hoping that some of our professionals will be able to help her out. The woman has asked to remain anonymous, because she’s using the money from some inheritance she received last year, and doesn’t want her family to find out. She has however agreed to let us make the Bark public in order to help her find the right person for the job.

If you think this sounds like something you’d like to try, here’s the request in full:

Hiya, bit of a weird one I know but basically, I feel like I need someone to make my decisions for me. I’ve had a really rubbish year and would love for someone to take control of my life think of it a bit like a real life Bandersnatch :). I have no idea if this sort of thing exists, but came across clairvoyants when I was looking for another service, so thought it was worth a shot.

As I said, the past year has been awful. I lost money that I loaned to an old friend, I got stranded without any money while backpacking in New Zealand, was in an abusive relationship for 6 months before I got dumped and then I got mugged because I decided to take a shortcut home through a dodgy area. I am obviously completely incapable of making the right choices by myself!

My mum even jokes about it. It seems like every week some minor mishap will happen to me and I’m fed up.

I’ve always been quite spiritual so I’m looking for someone like a clairvoyant or spiritual guide that I can really connect with, who can help me make the right decisions. I think a month should be long enough to get things back on track for me. But if it works, then maybe I’ll keep on going with it.

The type of decisions I’d need help with include who I should go on a Tinder date with (I seem to have terrible taste in men) and what I should spend my savings on, amongst other things. Basically, I’d like the person to be on-call so they can help me whenever and with whatever I need. I text a lot so they should be available to message me frequently and very quick to respond.

I’m really ready to try anything – and I’ve set aside £2,000 for this from some inheritance money I received last year.

Do you think you can help the women out? If you answered yes and you’re a clairvoyant/psychic/spiritual person, then register your services here.

Here’s what our co-founder, Kai Feller had to say about it:

“Despite the fact it’s a bit of a strange idea, with the pressures of modern life I’m surprised that a request like this hasn’t come in sooner. We’re now bombarded with countless decisions and choices and sometimes people don’t always make the best ones.

“It’s a bit extreme to hire someone to make those decisions for you, but I guess people hire financial advisors and trust banks to manage their money, so why not hire someone to manage your life?”

A wingman’s guide to dating this Valentine’s Day

Remember the days before apps like Tinder and Bumble added to the already complicated world of dating?

With Valentine’s Day closing in, it’s time to put down your smartphone and start meeting people in real life! That’s why we’ve partnered with our most successful wingman and wingwoman to create a detailed guide to dating…offline.

A recent survey by YouGov* found that dating apps are the least preferred way to meet someone, despite roughly half of 16-34-year-olds using them. Of more than 2,000 people surveyed, 37% said that apps such as Bumble were their least preferred method of meeting a partner, but almost a third who use dating apps do so because they are too shy to approach people in person.

In addition, Bark.com has seen a high demand for the ‘pro wingman’ service since its launch in August last year, with more than 400 requests from members of the public in just six months.

Here are the top dating tips from our very own wingman and wingwoman:

  1. Start off in a comfortable environment: If a bar or nightclub isn’t your usual scene, then you won’t feel completely at ease. Find a spot that’s familiar to you, and where you will feel most comfortable, such as your usual coffee shop.
  2. Do your research: If you have a potential date in mind but haven’t plucked up the courage to ask them out, it will be worth your while to do a little social media research beforehand. Use Facebook or Instagram (if available) to find out where they enjoy spending time, what their hobbies are and what you both have in common.
  3. Practice flirting with your friends: You know what they say – practice makes perfect. Your friends are more than likely to be honest with you, so it can be beneficial to try having a naturally flirty conversation with someone you know before speaking to a stranger.
  4. Dress to impress: While you don’t have to throw on your best or most expensive outfit when you’re looking to meet a potential partner, it’s important to remember that confidence and colour are key. Choose clothes that flatter and make you feel great.
  5. Don’t be afraid to give compliments: A lot of effort goes into getting ready for a date and it’s nice to acknowledge this effort, so take the time to give a compliment, like “you look lovely”. Anything more is a bit much for the first date.
  6. Be approachable: When you feel awkward or uncomfortable, people can pick up on that tension. Stay calm, smile and keep your body language open. These non-verbal cues can say a huge amount about a person.
  7. Avoid cheesy one-liners: You might think that you’re breaking the ice, but the majority of pickup lines are sleezy or just plain awful. There’s nothing wrong with saying “hey, how are you?”
  8. Grab tips from romantic movies: There are plenty of lessons to learn from romantic movies. From learning to love yourself first to tackling long distance relationships, dealing with rejection to keeping the romance alive; don’t be afraid to get some inspiration from your favourite flicks.
  9. Turn off your phone: Having your phone on during a date can be a huge distraction and take your attention away from the person you’re spending quality time with. Avoid interruptions and turn your phone off completely.
  10. Don’t forget your manners: Demonstrating poor manners such as foul language is one sure fire way to end the night abruptly. Good manners are not hard to keep up and will set a good first impression.
  11. Don’t be afraid of rejection: You shouldn’t let a fear of rejection stop you from meeting someone in real life. Start by getting comfortable talking to strangers, at coffee shops or the supermarket for example, and build your confidence from there.
  12. Get yourself a wingman: If you’re not 100% confident going out alone, want advice from someone with a little more experience or just want someone to back you up, bringing a wingman or wingwoman along is a great idea.

Professional wingmen and wingwomen advertising their services through Bark.com typically charge upwards of £30 per hour, but as with all our service providers, they can set their own prices.

People can hire a professional wingman or wingwoman here: www.bark.com/en/gb/services/wingmen-wingwomen/

Kai Feller, co-founder of Bark.com, commented:

“For some people, it can be really nerve-wracking to approach strangers in public, let alone ask them out. Throw in the social pressure to be a smooth talker and appear perfectly groomed and it’s no wonder so many people have admitted to being too shy to approach a potential date!

“We’ve received hundreds of Barks through the site since we launched the wingwoman and wingman service last year, so the demand was certainly there. We’re happy to have accommodated the needs of our users, and we hope that this guide provides further help to anyone looking for love this Valentine’s Day.”

*www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45007017

Introducing our new customer app…

Bark: Hire Local Professionals

Finding a local professional with Bark just got even easier, with our new Bark customer app. Whether you’re looking for a web designer for your new business, a cleaner to keep your home spotless, or a personal trainer to whip you into shape, we’ve got you covered.

Download our new app now to start searching local services nationwide in seconds, and find the right professional for the job.

Download the Bark: Hire Local Professionals app now:

Start using the app today

Quick and easy search

Search thousands of local professionals across the country by browsing popular categories,  searching specific services or exploring suggestions based on your previous requests.

Connect with the best of Bark

Like on Bark.com, we’ll suggest the best professionals for the job and now you can contact them and request quotes directly through the app.

Read customer reviews

Compare professionals and read reviews from previous customers to help you decide who to hire. And add your own review after you’ve hired a professional.

Keep track of your requests

You can view all of your requests and quotes, past and present, in one place. And post a new request whenever you need.

Manage your account on the go

Wherever you are, it’s now super easy to update your contact details, add a profile picture, change your password and manage notifications.

Need a medicine drop? Hire a ‘Flu Fighter’

January is undoubtedly one of the most sickly times of the year, and that’s why we’ve decided to launch our new ‘Flu Fighter’ service for sick Brits.

The service will allow customers to request a ‘Flu Fighter’, who will deliver a care package of medicines, such as; Lemsip, Strepsils, Ibuprofen, Paracetamol and cough syrup, as well as any fast food or soft drinks you want.

We’re aiming the service at sick members of the public who don’t want to leave the house, but need access to all of their cold and flu essentials. Each ‘care package’ will cost £10, plus the additional cost for extra food or special requests you make, with Flu Fighters aiming to be at your house within an hour.

To reach our goal of this becoming a nationwide service by the end of January, we’re now recruiting for more ‘Flu Fighters’ across the UK ahead of the February colds. Each ‘Flu Fighter’ can expect to earn upwards of £10 an hour, dependent on the number of drops they make.

Fancy dropping Lemsip to sick people? Apply to become a Flu Fighter here: https://www.bark.com/en/gb/sellers/create/

Kai Feller, Bark.com co-founder, said,

“It’s common knowledge that illness and flu is especially rife this time of year, and it’s only going to get worse heading into February. We’ve got a few guys in the office who’ve been feeling a bit worse for wear, and that’s what sparked the idea.

“We want the service to span as much of the UK as possible by the end of January, which is why we’re appealing for people across the country to register to offer it.”

The top ten most requested makeup looks of 2018

Images of celebrities are everywhere in today’s world, and more often than not, their makeup catches the eye. As 2018 comes to a close, we have decided to team up with our beauty experts to compile a list of the top 10 most requested makeup looks of the last 12 months.  

We have surveyed 2,000 of our makeup artists, stylists and beauticians who advertise their services through Bark.com, to reveal the signature celebrity makeup trends most requested by their customers. Kylie Jenner’s famous pout and Meghan Markle’s flawless wedding makeup feature on the list, along with a set of top tips to help you recreate each look.

The top 10 makeup looks requested in 2018 are:

  1.       Kylie Jenner:

Not only has the reality star and owner of Kylie Cosmetics become one of the world’s most talked about celebrities, her full pout has captivated the nation. Kylie’s trend-setting lipstick style has seen her build a multi-million-dollar brand and become the most sought-after look of 2018.

Our experts say…

Start by exfoliating your lips to remove any dead skin, then use a concealer to hide your lip line. Next, take a lip liner that matches your lipstick and trace just outside of your natural lip line to create a bigger pout. Fill in your lips with matte lipstick or use a lip liner to colour your entire lip.

  1.       Meghan Markle:

With 1.9 billion people tuning in to watch Meghan Markle wed Prince Harry earlier this year, it’s no wonder that her makeup was so popular in 2018. Her elegant and simple look highlighted her natural beauty and was in high demand with makeup artists across the country.

Our experts say…

Prepare your skin with a primer or moisturiser before applying a light layer of concealer and foundation. Don’t forget, less is more with this look. To achieve Meghan’s smokey eye, use a copper or light brown eyeshadow, line your lids with a warm brown eye pencil and finish off with a layer of black mascara, but nothing too heavy. For your lips, use a fresh nude or pink shade of gloss.

  1.       Kim Kardashian:

Arguably the most famous face in the Kardashian family, Kim’s signature contour makeup technique inspired millions to experiment with shading and highlighting, making her perfectly sculpted skin the third most highly requested look of last year.

Our experts say…

Use a primer to prep your skin, then take a foundation or concealer one shade lighter than your skin tone and apply to the centre of your forehead, nose, under your eyes, cheekbones and the centre of your chin. Next, use a darker shade to swipe under your cheekbones, jawline, hairline and sides of your nose. Blend the darker foundation followed by the lighter shade and even out your complexion. Use highlighter under your brows, on the tops of your cheekbones and down the ridge of your nose. Finish and set your makeup with translucent powder.

  1.       Cara Delevingne:

The 26-year-old model has been recognised for her unique look for years. Her thick statement brows and smokey eyes kick-started a trend that trickled from the runway to celebrities, vloggers and beyond to become one of the top five most requested looks of the last 12 months.

Our experts say…

This look is much easier to copy if you have a fuller brow to work with! First, use an eyebrow brush to comb your brow hair upwards, then use a pencil to trace underneath your brow, following your natural arch. Fill in the front part of your brow using vertical strokes. Next, fill in any sparse areas using a brown eyeshadow or eyebrow powder. Keep the brows as natural as possible without too much styling.

  1.    Ariana Grande:

It’s not just a long, high ponytail that’s defined her look – Ariana Grande is rarely seen without pristine cat-eye-liner. The pop star’s signature look adds drama, accentuates her almond eyes and has led many to turn to makeup artists for the perfect wing every time.

Our experts say…

After applying your choice of eyeshadow, outline your cat-eye with a pencil, angling the wing upwards toward the end of your eyebrow. This helps to make the eyes look larger and eyelashes to appear denser. Next, trace and fill in the outlined wing with liquid liner – Ariana typically uses a rolling applicator to achieve her famous look. Finish the look with false eyelashes to add even more drama.

  1.       Lily Collins:

This year’s Met Gala was one of the most creative when it came to hair and makeup, but with her bold brows, dark lips, intense eye makeup and gem stones to finish, Lily Collins’ take on ‘Heavenly bodies’ stuck in everyone’s minds.  

Our experts say…

Once you’ve prepped your skin, apply a foundation and concealer base, and set with powder. To achieve Lily’s full brows, brush hairs up and out before lining with a brow pencil. Fill in sparse areas with vertical pencil strokes and eyebrow powder. For the eyes, apply a smokey brown eyeshadow over your upper lid followed by a layer of shimmery bronze and a couple of generous layers of black mascara. If you’re going for the full look, add adhesive gems to the centre of your lids and under your lash line, and a red tear drop under one eye. To finish the look, add a light layer of dark purple or red lip gloss.

  1.       Beyoncé:

Not only did Beyoncé make history as Coachella’s first headlining woman of colour, she did it looking flawless, with dramatic and sparkling makeup that saw the performance become one of her most memorable to date.

Our experts say…

To achieve Beyoncé’s glow, apply your foundation as usual and set with powder, followed by a touch of bronzer and highlighter. The glittery eye is the highlight of this look, so it’s important to use layers to create extra dimension. Start with a luminescent powder and layer with gold or copper glittery tones. Next, line the lid to create a feline flick and swipe on black mascara. Finish the look with a dark nude lipstick.

  1.       Bella Hadid:

At just 22-years-old, Bella Hadid has become one of the most in-demand supermodel’s in the world. The dark-haired beauty is famous for her feline, smokey eye makeup, so it comes as no surprise that so many people would want to replicate her look.

Our experts say…

This look is all about the drama, so don’t be afraid to layer on the liner. Start with a metallic silver eyeshadow and apply from the inner corner to the centre of your eye. Take a charcoal grey or black powder and apply to the other half of your eyelid, sloping upwards slightly towards your eyebrow to create a cat-eye. Repeat to build up the intensity then use a brush or your finger to blend. Line your lid with liquid eyeliner, following the outline of your eyeshadow. For your lower lash line, use a densely packed powder brush and layer on the darker eyeshadow. Finish with a generous coat of mascara.

  1.       Rihanna:

The singer, fashion designer and pioneering founder of Fenty Beauty is famous for her flawless foundation, making her glowing skin the envy of millions and securing her spot in the top ten most requested makeup looks of the last 12 months.

Our experts say…

Start by using a primer to prepare your skin before applying foundation using a brush or makeup sponge and blending evenly. Next, blend a darker shade of foundation or contour stick below your cheekbones, along your hairline, your jawline and the sides of your nose. Swipe concealer down the bridge of your nose and under your eyes for a subtle highlight, and blend once more. Set with powder. Add some warmth to your look by swiping a little bronzer over the top of the areas you have contoured. Finish by applying blusher on your cheeks, followed by generous layers of highlighter on the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, your browbone and the corner of your eyes.

  1.   Taylor Swift:

Taylor Swift’s style has evolved almost as much as her music, seeing her go from country darling to global superstar, but it’s one of her recent looks, channelling the 1960s at this year’s American Music Awards, that’s proven most popular.

Our experts say…

To achieve the hitmaker’s 1960s inspired look, start by applying primer, foundation and concealer as usual. Set with powder for a flawless, matte finish, then add a peach-toned blush and highlighter to your cheekbones. Next, swipe a silver eyeshadow across your lids, sloping upwards toward your brow to create a cat-eye. Line your lid with liquid eyeliner, following the curve of your eyeshadow, then add white liner to your waterline. Line your lower lash with a black or charcoal pencil, give your lashes a generous coat of mascara and add false lashes for extra drama. Finish the look with a pale pink or nude lip gloss.

The survey results revealed that 75% of people looking for a makeup artist will request a specific celebrity look, highlighting some of the biggest trends in the UK cosmetics industry, which has been dubbed the third largest in Europe*.

The research also showed that people in London, Birmingham and Essex are more likely to hire a makeup artist than the rest of the UK, with weddings listed as the top reason for hiring a makeup artist.

Kai Feller, co-founder of Bark.com, said:

“Considering the popularity of these celebrities, it’s no surprise to see many of them on the list. The influence of celebrity culture on the cosmetics industry is huge, with many of these stars even capitalising on this and starting their own successful beauty lines.

“It’s always interesting to see how celebrity culture impacts consumer buying habits – who would have thought that an American singer’s eyeliner would impact what British makeup artists do day-to-day!”

*https://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/news/article_page/UK_cosmetics_market_dubbed_third_largest_in_EU/149236 

How to write estimates that will win you business on Bark

When a client asks for an estimate, it’s an exciting moment – the thought of new business, a new project to work on. And putting together a strong estimate is vital for turning that prospect into one of your future clients.

It’s not just about giving a price for a job. Estimates give your prospects an insight into what you and your business are like. And first impressions really matter.

So, with that in mind, here are some top tips to help you write estimates that will seal the deal and hopefully turn your leads into new business.

1. Ask questions

Getting the facts right is essential to providing an accurate estimate. It saves a lot of time in the long run if you’re both on the same page from the beginning. Sometimes, a quick 5-minute call or sending over a quick email can make a world of difference to you understanding your prospect’s needs.

2. Remember your profit margins

The excitement of potentially landing a new client can sometimes tempt you to go in with a low price to win the job. But, you don’t want to undersell the services you offer. Instead, charge a fair price and make sure you allow for sensible profit margins that reflect your time and effort.

3. Offer a freebie

Giving your clients something for free as part of the job is a great way to get into their good books from the start. Even if it’s just a small detail for you, it can mean a lot to them and will help you stand out from the competition.

4. Add a personal touch

Having a ‘one size fits all’ approach, can seem temptingly efficient to save you time and energy. But it’s important to make sure each client knows that you value their business.

Use your client’s name in the estimate and, if possible, refer to any other additional information that is personal to them and their job. These personal touches can make all the difference to the client.

5. Make it easy to read

Clients should be able to read through your estimate and understand it in seconds, without too much effort. Provide all relevant information and make sure you include details of every part of the job, but keep each point brief.

6. Be thorough and accurate

Double check spellings, names, dates, description, prices etc. to make sure everything is present and correct. And make sure you include your business’s details and logo to make sure it looks professional.

Receiving a well-constructed, comprehensive estimate shows you have a considered, detailed approach to your work. This can do wonders for helping convince a prospect that you’re the person for the job. A sloppy, ‘copy and paste’ estimate can be really off-putting to potential clients.

7. Speedy responses

Responding to your leads within 24-48 hours or less shows you mean business, and that you’re enthusiastic about the project. As they say, the early bird catches the customer!

Hopefully, if you can start using these tips, you’ll have your calendar filling up with booked jobs in no time.

Need help? To make the most of Bark, call our helpful support team on 020 3697 0237 (9am-6pm Mon-Fri), or 424-227-5323 if you’re in the US. Or drop us an email to team@bark.com.

How to get seen more by customers on Bark

We want your business to be as successful as possible on Bark. To get you there, we’ll proactively suggest you to customers looking for your services. So, to help us do that, we need your profile to be as strong as possible.

Here are a few key things you can do to help boost your profile, which will get you seen by more customers and improve your chances of being hired once you get in touch with them.

1. Keep your profile up-to-date

Make sure you’ve filled out as much of your Bark profile as possible. Provide additional details where you can and add links to your website and social media pages. Profiles with lots of information get much more interest and are hired more.

2. Get more reviews

It’s always encouraging to see when a business has been recommended by previous customers. It gives potential new customers confidence in your services and shows them you’re good at what you do.

Asking your customers to provide reviews will help get your profile more attention and encourage prospects that you’re the person for the job. And you can ask all your customers to leave a review, including those you didn’t get through Bark.

It’s also good to respond to all your reviews. Engaging with your customers and acknowledging their feedback shows excellent customer service. Another plus for prospects trying to decide who to hire.

3. Update your lead preferences

The best way to get the perfect leads for your business is to make sure you set the right preferences on your profile. Tell us exactly which services you offer and where, and for each service make sure you review the filter questions to refine the leads you receive for that particular service. That way we’ll send you the leads that you really want to receive.

4. Make sure you have credits

A speedy response to a lead massively improves your chances of being hired, so make sure you’re always ready to respond to leads by keeping your credit balance topped up.

Having credits in your account also means we can suggest your business to more customers, because we know you’re ready to respond.

Need help? If you have any questions about improving your profile, or need help to make the most of Bark, give us a call on 020 3697 0237 (9am-6pm Mon-Fri), or 424-227-5323 if you’re in the US. Or drop us an email to team@bark.com.

Tension between your partner and parents? Here’s a handy guide to resolve those issues before Christmas

With Christmas approaching, we noticed an increase in requests for counsellors on our site. When we investigated, we realised that the increase was mostly due to the fact that partners and in-laws were seeking counselling together to resolve their differences.

Due to this, we decided to work with counsellors on the site to create a guide on how to relieve the tension between partners and their in-laws.

Try to understand the other person’s perspective and respect it

Thinking about a situation from other person’s point of view can be a tricky thing to do, but crucial. In a stressful situation, you need to distance yourself and consider how you would feel in the other person’s shoes. That way, you’ll be able to empathise with them more and be able to resolve the situation.

Find something to bond over

Finding something your partner and parents both like might be difficult, but it gives them a topic to talk about. It could be grandkids, football, a hobby – anything! This demonstrates to them that they have something in common and can discuss something at length. Once they find a topic they have in common, they may find more and build a better relationship.

Concentrate on something else

By focusing on an activity, it diverts their attention to something else and not the uncomfortable situation they may be in. They could watch a film or play a board game, anything that will distract them. It also allows them to relax and have fun in each other’s company.

Be flexible

Your partner and parents need to learn to be more flexible around each other. This also means compromising with each other on different situations. It takes a lot of patience on both sides, but it’s something that will greatly help ease the tension and lighten the atmosphere.

If you feel an argument brewing, walk away

If you, your partner or your parents begin to feel an argument is about to happen, excuse yourself and leave the situation. During an argument, things can be said in the heat of the moment that cannot be taken back. It’s best to leave the situation and discuss it at another time when everyone is calmer.

Try to forgive and forget

It’s a difficult thing to do but trying to forgive and forget is crucial to improving relationships. There may be something that happened years ago that caused the rift and because no-one has wanted to forget about it, no-one’s moved on. Try to confront the problem, explain why it was an issue and then set out to resolve it.

Set healthy boundaries and don’t be afraid to enforce them

An issue that may be arising is the lack of boundaries parents have when at your house. To prevent this, you need to clearly tell them what you and your partner are and are not comfortable with and they need to respect that.

Focus on the positives

Everyone has their good points and it’s important to focus on those rather than the bad. While it’s not always easy, the effort you put into focusing on the good things will give you a more positive view, which will, therefore, improve your relationship.

Have realistic expectations of people

No-one’s perfect and people do get on one another’s nerves. It’s important not to have unrealistic expectations of others and accept they have flaws (and that you do too!).

Talk about the issues in a safe environment

There is most likely a root cause to much of the conflict between partners and in-laws and it’s important to be able to discuss this reason in a safe environment where everyone can talk freely. With the conflict out in the open, it gives everyone a chance to address it and try to resolve it.

We also have dedicated family counsellors on site, if this is something you feel you need: https://www.bark.com/en/gb/services/family-counselling/

Shop owner posts request for professional thief to ‘rob’ store – can you help?

Letting someone deliberately steal things from you might seem like a strange decision, but for one desperate store owner, this request could save thousands of pounds.

An owner of an independent store in Greater London has posted a ‘Bark’ looking for a ‘professional thief’ to rob her store in an effort to test her security systems and the diligence of her staff.

While this isn’t a service we normally provide, we’re hoping that one of our security professionals will be able to help her out.

She has asked to remain anonymous, however she has agreed to let us make the Bark public to help find the right person for the job. Here is the request in full:

I’m looking for a professional to help highlight security weaknesses in my store, by deliberately stealing from it.

I’ve been a business owner since I opened my retail shop in 2013, and have experienced extensive theft every year in the run-up to Christmas for the last five years.

Like clockwork, from the start of November, the shop gets busier and it becomes harder to monitor everyone who comes through the door. Thieves swipe items from our shelves and I’m losing thousands of pounds every year and, as a small business owner, I can’t afford to let this slide.

I’m thinking that I need to re-evaluate how my shop is designed, and where I have CCTV cameras, because currently we’re unable to catch any thieves in the act. To help I’m looking to hire someone to come in and try to steal from my shop deliberately, and then feedback where we’re going wrong on the security front.

I would like to hire someone as soon as possible to carry out the mock ‘theft’, and am willing to pay up to £50 an hour for the right person. As an added bonus, whoever is chosen will be able to keep 3 items they successfully steal without being caught.

I’ll need you to come in beforehand and visit the shop on different dates/times over several weeks. After the ‘thefts’ I’ll also need a detailed report of how they were carried out, whether you were approached or questioned by any members of staff, any blind spots in the CCTV coverage and any other security weaknesses.

Obviously, I don’t want anyone with a criminal record having this kind of access to my store, so a full background check will be conducted. Experience in a security profession is also required.

It’s an odd request, but I’m determined to find weaknesses that I may not have spotted before. If you can help or think you can help me improve the security of my store, please let me know.

Thanks.

Do you think you can help this shop owner out? If you answered yes, then sign up here: https://www.bark.com/en/gb/sellers/create/

Here’s what our co-founder, Kai Feller had to say:

“Retail theft can have a devastating impact on small businesses, costing retailers more than £700 million in 2017. Increased footfall during the festive shopping period often leads to a spike in thefts. So, when you consider that this store owner is losing thousands of pounds every year due to Christmas thefts, it’s not surprising that she is taking this step to find out how she can improve the security of her store.

“While we do have a variety of security professionals already on our site, professional robbery isn’t a service we actively offer. However, we hope that someone with the right skills and know-how is willing to help this store owner better secure her shop. Who knows, if we have a significant number of applications perhaps this can become a permanent service on Bark.com!”

Spending too much time on your phone? We will give you free counselling to help you curb the addiction

A new feature on the latest iOS version update has been causing a bit of a stir, and for good reason. The Screen Time Addition lets you see a report of how much time you spend on your phone each day, and each week, with many people amazed at just how often they use their phone and social media in particular.

The Screen Time Addition offers some interesting insight into how we behave and interact with our phones, so we decided to survey 2,000 iPhone users to find out how often the ‘average’ person goes on their mobile and what apps they use the most.  

According to the results, people spend an average of 2 hours and 36 minutes on devices per day, with more than a quarter, 27%, admitting that they use their phone for more than 4 hours each day. 7% of respondents admitted that they used their phone for more than six hours a day, as per their reported data.

The average iPhone user picks their phone up 92 times per day. A fifth, 19%, said they picked their phone up more than 200 times a day. At the higher end of the spectrum, one in 20, 6%, said that their report highlighted more than 300 pickups per day on average.

Social networking accounts for more than half of the average iPhone user’s time on their device, according to the survey, with apps that fall under the banner of ‘entertainment’ accounting for a tenth of time, on average.

The most startling result to come out of the survey is that more than four fifths of respondents, 84%, said they were concerned that they’re addicted to their phones.

To help people concerned with their usage, we’ve worked with some of our  counsellors to put together a few pieces of advice on how to spend less time on your phone. For those who spend more than 6 hours on their phone a day, and can prove it with a screenshot, we’re willing to offer one free 1 to 1 counselling session to help you put down your handset.

5 ways to reduce your Screen Time

Ignore your phone when you’re out

When you’re out with friends, put your phone away and focus on what you’re doing with them. Turn it off or if you’re not comfortable with that, put it on airplane mode so you’re not tempted to scroll on social media or answer messages. This allows you to spend more quality time with your friends and if you continue to do this, it will become second nature not to use it when in their company. You may even find that you have a more enjoyable time as well.

Remove non-essential apps 

With iPhones, you can see which apps you use the most and the ones you don’t. Delete the non-essential social media apps from your phone and only spend time on them when you’re at a desktop, for example Facebook. You’ll find your time on them plummets, but if you miss it, it’s easy to reinstall. 

Don’t have your phone at the table when you’re eating 

It’s easy to put your phone on the kitchen table while you’re eating, and use it absentmindedly. However, giving yourself a rule of ‘no phones at the table’ can keep you away from your phone for half an hour or so. This also allows you to communicate and engage with family members, housemates and partners better, strengthening these friendships/relationships.

Put your phone away when at work

If you don’t need your phone for work, why not turn it off? This means you have 8 hours roughly away from your phone and can focus on your work more, you might even find your productivity improves because you’re less distracted.

Don’t take your phone to bed

Phones are now our main means of waking up, so it is impractical to turn it off at night, however if you are part of the minority that still owns an alarm clock, then switch it off or put it on charge in another room, so it’s out of sight and out of mind. It’s also a good idea to set an alarm about an hour before you usually go to bed, to remind you to either turn it off or put it on airplane mode. This gives you a chance to wind down before bed, without stimulating your mind with social media or other apps, and can lead to better quality sleep.

Screen Time Counselling 

If you are concerned about the amount of time you’re spending on your phone and can demonstrate high usage of 6 hours a day or more, you can apply for a free counselling session here.

You must be 18 years old or older, and be able to provide a screengrab of your usage data from Screen Time, such as amount of time spent on your phone, number of pickups and most-used apps. If you qualify, you will be paired with a counsellor in your local area.