Category: Partnerships

A week with 4G and giffgaff

Mobile internet has become essential in everything we do at Future Positive, especially when it comes to updating our Instagram profile with our latest finds from Edinburgh or our trips. That’s why we were excited when Mobile Virtual Network Operator giffgaff approached us to ask if we’d like to test their 4G network and offered us a Sony Xperia Z3 to give it a try.

Being used to our 3G networks, we must say that the change was impressive. The connection was smooth during the whole week and we were able to share updates on our social profiles on the go almost immediately, without having to wait for photos to upload to Twitter and Instagram.

Apart from trying it on our social updates throughout the week, we also decided to test it with video uploads on Snapchat. We’ve been experimenting with this app for a while, creating our own Stories when we attend events and giffgaff‘s 4G network made everything much easier and faster.

We also tend to watch a fair amount of video content online every week, especially as we like to catch up with CreativeMornings‘ talks happening in other cities each month. We normally do this at the studio as anywhere where WiFi is not available, it usually becomes impossible to watch a video without buffering for a long time with our current 3G plan. With the 4G connection, we were able to enjoy video content anywhere with no interruptions and incredibly fast loading times.

After a week being more productive and working faster thanks to 4G, we think it’s time to say goodbye to our current 3G plan.

June 2, 2015
A hassle-free day with Santander

Santander recently got in touch to tell us about their 123 current account, a new service offering cashback on council tax and bills. As we recently started Future Positive Studio, we’re interested in getting the most out of our bank accounts so we asked Santander to tell us a little more about the 123 current account and its benefits.

One of the strengths of the 123 current account is the easiness of switching everything from your current bank to Santander – it only takes 7 days for direct debits, standing orders and salary to be moved. To mirror this hassle-free process, Santander invited us to have a day to ourselves without having to worry about anything, taking us for brunch and dinner around Edinburgh.

This hassle-free day couldn’t have come in a better moment, as we’re currently finalising the last details of a new City Guide to Edinburgh. We decided to walk around the city and visit some new places to us.

We started our morning having brunch at The Gardener’s Cottage. This small restaurant offers a menu that changes daily based on the availability of local produce. We enjoyed a couple of Beetroot Bloody Mary, roe deer and fava beans dips with artisan sourdough bread, and Arbroath smokie and meatloaf sandwiches.

After our brunch we went to Stockbridge, one of our favourite neighbourhoods in Edinburgh. We had a look at some of the recently-opened shops and took the peaceful Water of Leith to walk to Dean Village, one of the areas we wanted to photograph for our City Guide.

We explored Dean Village’s buildings and its numerous hidden streets and after that, we walked to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art to check Roy Lichtenstein’s exhibition, which we hadn’t been able to see yet, and also enjoyed a stroll around its gardens.

We decided to end our day having an amazing dinner at Blackfriars. This independent restaurant and bar located in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre offers delicious food and a great selection of craft beers. Although we had been to the bar a few times before, it was our first experience in the restaurant and it didn’t disappoint. We enjoyed a special 4-course dinner paired with tasty beers by Redchurch Brewery – we couldn’t have asked for a better ending to our hassle-free day!

May 5, 2015
Outwitting the weather with Joules

Tom Joule started British lifestyle brand Joules in 1989 designing colourful polo shirts. Throughout the years, Tom grew a customer base who appreciated the design and quality details in his clothing, and sold his products at country fairs across the UK. But when the foot-and-mouth crisis struck in 2001, Tom lost his main selling platforms due to many of these fairs closing down and decided to diversify Joules into a mail order business, growing the product range and later opening his first shop in Market Harborough, next to his father’s café.

Joule brought innovation and modern edge into the rather traditional countryside clothing market and today, Joules is one of Britain’s most loved lifestyle brands, producing clothing, accessories and homewares.

There are some great lessons to be learnt from Tom’s business story and his ability to innovate and adapt to change. That’s why we were excited when Joules approached us to ask if we wanted to test something from the men’s range. We picked the Rainier mac coat and the Ewan jumper, and took them with us on a morning off in Edinburgh.

We decided that the best way to test the clothes, and see if they could help us outwit the weather, was to wear them on a hike up Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh’s own dormant volcano from where you you can enjoy breathtaking views of the city. If you have visited Scotland in January, you probably know that the weather isn’t too pleasant around this time of the year, but despite the wind and cold temperatures, the Rainier coat and the Ewan jumper managed to keep us warm and let us enjoy the city views!

February 1, 2015
Boss Orange Watches: The Look & Giveaway

As you might have seen in our previous posts, we partnered up with BOSS Orange Watches to introduce you to some of the new pieces from their latest collection. We already tested a watch from the New York line and now it’s time to present you with a look inspired by the laid back lifestyle and individuality of the brand. We’re also giving away one BOSS Orange watch, so keep on reading to find out how to get it!

We decided to put together an outfit based around the idea of a day off here in Edinburgh. Playing with textures and a subtle colour palette, we created a minimalist look that works well with the silver stainless steel casing of the watch, and that makes it stand out. For this outfit, we combined classic pieces like a A.P.C grey sweatshirt, a white oxford shirt, a pair of dark blue slim fit jeans and our favourite shoes of the season: the Adidas Stan Smith. We also took with us a Dries Van Noten bag to carry our camera, notebook and everything else we need during the day. The New York watch adds that final touch to the outfit, polishing the look whilst keeping a relaxed vibe.

If you want to win one of the new Boss Orange Watches, simply re-tweet the update below before 19 December 2014 and follow us. The winner will be chosen at random and informed through a DM (so don’t forget to follow us). Good luck!

Enter our Boss Orange Watch #giveaway on our blog http://t.co/8DXgLddlVr #competition pic.twitter.com/t6pXYcdmm2

— Future Positive (@FuturePositive_) December 9, 2014

This is a sponsored post, written for BuzzParadise campaigns in partnership with BOSS Orange Watches.

December 9, 2014
Discovering Edinburgh with MINI

To celebrate the launch of the new MINI Cooper automatic, the British car manufacturer approached us and asked to design a driving route around some of our favourite places in Edinburgh.

What we love the most about MINI is how the company combines the tradition of this iconic British car model with the latest innovations and trends. We think that Edinburgh is also the perfect example of how old and new can work together and we’ve wanted to reflect that in the itinerary we’ve created. From the latest coffee shops and fashion stores to the quaint beauty of the Old Town and the magnificent views from Calton Hill, have a look at the map at the bottom of the post and plan your visit to Edinburgh with Future Positive and MINI!

9 AM – Brew Lab

Start your Edinburgh road trip at Brew Lab, a specialty coffee shop serving single origin brewed coffees and espresso. The custom made espresso blend created and roasted by Has Been is brewed using traditional methods that bring out the coffee’s best characteristics. With pastries from local bakery Le Petit Francais, as well as cakes from cake shop and café Lovecrumbs, Brew Lab makes a perfect spot to start your day in Edinburgh.

6-8 South College Street

10 AM – Old Town

Edinburgh’s Old Town is the oldest part of the city and one of the most popular with tourists. While you’re here, it’s worth exploring the majestic buildings of Edinburgh University including the Old College and McEwan Hall in Bristo Square. Take a stroll down the Royal Mile, at the centre of the Old Town, leading from Edinburgh Castle to the beautiful Holyrood Palace. Also, don’t be afraid to explore the narrow streets and hidden courtyards around this part of the city as it’s where many great small restaurants and cafés are located.

12 PM – Stills Gallery

Stills Gallery is Scotland’s Centre for Photography. Located just off the Royal Mile, Stills hosts four exhibitions each year that showcase the work of photographers and artists from around the world. Photography enthusiasts can also enjoy facilities such as dark rooms and a digital lab, as well as attend a wide range of courses throughout the year. The exhibitions at Stills are free and the gallery is open daily from 11AM – 6PM.

23 Cockburn Street

1 PM – Timberyard

Family-owned Timberyard has been opened for just a couple of years but it’s already one of the most talked about restaurants in the city. Aware of sustainability and the environment, Timberyard uses ingredients from small and local suppliers, breeders, producers and growers. Enjoy the delicious menu and don’t forget to explore all the different spaces of the restaurant, including the yard and the growing patch, where the owners grow their own herbs.

10 Lady Lawson Street

2:30PM – Dick’s

Continue your trip around Edinburgh and stop for some shopping at Dick’s. This menswear store opened in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge neighbourhood in 2012 with the idea of bringing together a curation of selected menswear collections, accessories and homewares. Dick’s supports small and independent manufacturers who produce quality products that will stand the test of time.

3 Northwest Circus Place

3:30PM – Life Story

Keep on shopping in Broughton, another great area for discovering small businesses in Edinburgh. Life Story is a design concept store owned and run by designers and partners in life Fee and Adam Storey. The store stocks carefully selected lifestyle products, art, lighting, homewares, furniture and taxidermy.

53 London Street

4:30PM – Calton Hill

Park your car and get ready for a little hike to Calton Hill, one of Edinburgh’s most iconic attractions. From the top of this mount you can enjoy spectacular views of the whole city, including the Old Town, Arthur’s Seat and the North Sea. Calton Hill is also home to contemporary art gallery Collective and numerous buildings and structures such as the National Monument and the Nelson Monument.

6:30PM – The Compass

Drive down Leith Walk and arrive to Future Positive’s neighbourhood, The Shore. Known for its excellent food offer, The Shore is a hidden gem for many tourists. Although it is hard to choose, one of our favourite restaurants in the area is The Compass. This gastropub offers great dishes at affordable prices – don’t leave without trying the desserts! The Compass’ kind staff and relaxed atmosphere make it the perfect last stop for the end of your trip.

44 Queen Charlotte Street

Route Map

Do you have any additions to our road trip? Share your Edinburgh favourites with us in the comments section below.

November 18, 2014