A uplifting story

CHRISTMAS shopping must have been a lot more fun 160 years ago.

According to a Glasgow Herald report of 1855, the Buchanan Street premises of Wylie & Lochhead boasted one of the first electric lifts in the country, for “those ladies and gentlemen to whom the climbing of successive flights of stairs might be attended with fatigue and annoyance”.

It went on: “Parties who are old, fat, feeble, short-winded, or simply lazy, or who desire a bit of fun, have only to place themselves on a platform of flooring when they are elevated by a gentle and pleasing process.”

Sweatshirt spread

WE saw an interesting idea from young designer Tom Cridland to create a sweatshirt which will last 30 years.

We do however have some concerns, particularly given the potential the average Scottish physique has for expansion.

Perhaps Mr Cridland might look to design an expansion package to cover that middle aged spread.

Safe pair of hands

THERE would appear to be little sign of John Gilligan, pictured, slowing down in what might be called the latter stages of his career.

Not content with parrying the slings and arrows which come with a seat on the Rangers board, the licensed trade veteran has taken interim charge of WallacesTCB, the wholesale arm of Tennent Caledonian Breweries.

It is no secret that integrating the wholesale business has been tricky for the Glasgow brewing giant.

But since Gilligan has held a senior post at fellow wholesaler William Morton, he looks like a safe pair of hands for WallacesTCB.

At the very least the drinks list at the forthcoming Gers AGM should be interesting.

Wethering the storm

THERE was a time when if you wanted to watch television then visiting a JD Wetherspoon outlet would be the last thing on your mind.

But the company, once famous for having no screens in its venues, is belatedly seeing the benefit of showing live sport.

Reporting its first quarter results, Wetherspoon noted the positive effect the recent Rugby World Cup had on sales.

We can only imagine the tills would have rung even more sweetly had England managed to qualify from the pool stage. Ouch.

Cheque mate

AS investment offers go it certainly packs a punch.

Lepe Rubingh is offering investors the chance to win a stake in his sports marketing company by defeating him at chessboxing, the hybrid sport that combines, yes you’ve guessed it, chess and boxing.

Rubingh, the former performance artists credited with founding the sport in 2003, will hand over a one per cent stake in Chess Boxing Global to an investor who defeats him.

However, if the challenger is defeated, he or she must invest €50,000 in the business.

The offbeat offer is part of Rubingh’s campaign to raise €500,000 to fund global expansion through the Seedrs platform.

Rubingh said: “If I’m beaten fair and square in the ring, I’ll hand over one percent of my company – no questions asked. But I want to warn interested investors they’ll need deep pockets. If I win – and I normally do – they’ll have to have their cheque book ready.”