Are there any brands you’d like to see Gransnet work with?

Yes
1) ethical brands which don’t test their products (beauty or household) by testing on animals eg squirting into rabbits’ eyes.
2) brands that either don’t use plastic packaging or (second best) at least their packaging is wholly from recycled materials.

An example of this is toilet paper. I buy from an ethical company that uses no plastic packaging at all, their rolls are wrapped individually in paper, delivered (free) in a cardboard box, no more expensive than other good brands, mine are make from bamboo, strong and soft, and half their profits go to building toilets in the third world.

M&S and any company’s that would help us and reward us for being over60! Ha ha

I would like to see the Book Club sponsored by a book (or e book) provider meaning that some of us (who want to) could get chance of reading the book of the month at a discount . I always enter the draw but can’t even remember the last time I managed to win a book .

I agree M&S would be good. I suppose I am the minority in thinking they have some great stuff at the moment. A Gransnet member discount would be nice.

Clark’s shoes? I love Clark’s as I can get a 5.5 . Not many places do half sizes .

I'd like to see a web developer work with GN and then they could help them to redesign the site so that the suggestions and requests that have been asked for could be implemented.

Good idea Chew especially a Like button.

I suppose that it is difficult to select a partner brand that would appeal to all GNs. We are a diverse membership, with ages ranging from 50 to 90, some 'well off' most 'comfortable'' some reliant on state pension only - some fighting fit, others with chronic illness. Some who are carers, widows, full time GPs. some working, some retired.

For instance, the latest competition (for a holiday in Torquay) really appealed because I am so in need of a break. Then reading on I discovered that it was for couples - I do not have a +1, and that travel to Torquay was not included in the prize - no way could I afford that, nor would I be comfortable travelling so far alone. Years ago I was thrilled to win a trip to Cadbury World with DGCs and had to decline due to caring responsibilities.

All I am saying is that promos and competition prizes should be as diverse as possible. There will never be something that suits everyone.

I agree with what you are saying Granny23 Almost all of the travel /experience prizes offered seem to cater for those in the South of England .

However, many years ago (late in the year) I won a very rare prize of a meal in a newly refurbished restaurant in a suburb of Newcastle, quite a way from me but doable . Well that was until I tried to take up the prize, which was a bit of a joke. They had put quite a few restrictions in place including the fact that the prize had to be taken by the end of the year but could not be taken on weekends leading up to Christmas . I rang up and asked if we could carry it over until January and was told No. I then asked about Thursdays and was told all Thursdays leading up to Christmas were fully booked.

In the end I told them to just forget it.

Don’t forget us tall maturing women in your brand partnerships. I am 5’11” with size 8/42 shoe and 35” inside leg.

Gin distillers

?

Could we have some clothes companies that don't aim at grannies but just make nice (and sometimes ethical) clothing- Nomads, Joe Browns?
Also could you negotiate small discounts for anyone identifying GN as the source of their purchase so that GN gets something but so do we? And advance notice of sales with purchasing access 24 hours before it goes live?

I think, GN you have to find brands that are acceptable to all age groups that might be on here and not ones that would put you off being associated with GN. I was quite surprised by the lively conversation and the fact that I wasn't one of the very youngest on here, in fact I'm well into my 60's. I might feel uncomfortable sticking around, and would certainly not have joined if Hotter (even my mother in her 90's refused to wear them) was a sponsor. M&S, Clarks, and some of the clothing brands mentioned above are probably the way to go, and I really liked the book club idea.

Right on Riverwalk ????

Marks and Spencer from me too!

Actually team up with anyone you like if it brings in the income for you, Previous work I did meant that I am skilled at looking at what I want to see with out noticing anything round it. Just choose mainstream brands promoted in an entirely inclusive way. No special 'older generation' adverts. Just ones showing people of all ages

PernillaVanilla you are brave to post I was quite surprised by the lively conversation and the fact that I wasn't one of the very youngest on here, in fact I'm well into my 60's. I might feel uncomfortable sticking around,

Who did you think would be n this thread. Many people on GN are only in their 40s and 50s and what on earth did you expect it to be like and why should people much older than you not have lively and interesting conversations?

It seems that even in your 60s you still believed in all the stereotypes of what older women (mainly) are. What chance do we stand when even we succumb to the myths about what we are.

I agree with those who say the emphasis these days should be on ethical and environmentally friendly things. These are essential in the brave new world we are all facing. If we ignore them it will be at our peril.

Monica In these days of often delaying parenthood until the forties, don't think people remember that it is quite possible to become a grandparent at forty too. It is even possible to be a grandparent (and eligible to join Gransnet) at 34 without anyone having had illegal under-age sex.

So, in theory, by 68 PernillaVanilla could be a great-great-grandmother - which conjures up an image that I am sure she would hate anyone to have of her.

elegran I was reminded of this only a few days ago when a poster, clearly a grandparent, admitted she was 49. The same age as DS and 2 years younger than DDiL, their children are 12 and 9 respectively.

Actually, 35.5 years. for it to be legal. 2 x 16 years for conception to be legal then 2 x 9 months gestation period.

remember in the early 60s, when my mother’s neighbour had a baby at 41. We were all horrified. Thinks have changed. For the better?

It is the overlap an difference between Mumsnet and Gransnet that I find interesting. In truth I feel more at home on MN still, as I work full time and will for at least 3 more years (I'm 63, not 68), my husband is only semi - retired. I do find all the estrangement threads very sad, especially as on MN there are a great many of them full of real or perceived negatives that cause people to go no contact with their parents or in laws. Th brands that people go on about on MN are Hush, Seasalt. Mint Velvet, Toast and Clarks, with lots of praise for outdoor type sandals too, to be honest all those brands probably appeal to GN regulars too.

I agree with Chewbacca - I’ve been asking GN for months to look into the reasons behind some posters not being able to see the OP and their own subsequent posts in different colours in the same way others amongst us can, but despite reminder emails there’s been silence from HQ.

I’d also like to know why we don’t have the option to hide whole threads like Mumsnet does - again, silence

Some nice clothing for the more generously sized woman would be nice. But other than that anything reasonable that’ll pay you!!

comfortable and stylish clothes and shoe brands such as
toast, seasalt, gudrun sjodren, charles clinkard, hotter, joseph seibel, peruvian connection, gap, boden and hush
creams and lotions without too many chemicals
makeup
cookware
food and healthy eating
art shops
theatres
cinemas
bookshops
newspapers and magazines
financial planning

quizqueen and Delila, how would you suggest that the site gains an income without advertising? I like the competitions and I'd love to be a product tester. I've turned off the ads, though as I find them irritating.