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We found this customer review of the Zack Oletto Revolving Ashtray on Amazon at the weekend:
Ideal for smoking gents who live with a fussy female!
I was slightly reluctant to order this item due to its price but I have to say it is worth every penny…
…I have found the mechanism disposes of everything from large cigar butts to card and bits and pieces that is too much effort to reach for the bin, with 1 and maximum 2 plunges. Overall a good buy if you are looking to buy a good looking ashtray/mini bin that won’t need replacing for many years and designed with a lot of care and attention to detail from Zack of Germany.
 You can read the full review here.
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The Spice Boy grinder, by Oliver Hemming, seems to be drawing attention. The original wooden version was created by the British designer in 2000, followed by the coloured, acrylic version in 2004. The coloured Spice Boy recently caught the eye of Emily Leppenwell at the Sunday Times and is a winner of the 2008 Red Dot Award for product design.
The Spice Boy is functional and versatile as well as being a bit of a looker. The wide bowl lets you easily fill with your chosen spices (anything smaller than a coffee bean) and the amazing ceramic ‘crushgrind’ mechanism won’t corrode (even if you use it for salt). Yes, you can use it for salt or pepper – but why not let your imagination run riot and create your own special spice mix?
The Spice Boy is available from Proleno for £24.95 and comes in white, blue, pink, red or black.
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 We always thought the Loft towel holder was a great idea. Designer stainless steel with no drilling required – you just have to be careful to place it carefully first time because the self-adhesive backing is very strong! We just received this impromptu message from a customer:
Just a quick email to say that the Zack Loft towel holders are brilliant. They are stylish, easy to fix and very practical. No more towels on the floor! I have bought them before, will buy them again and recommend them to others without hestiation!
Best wishes and thank you for your excellent service.
So, no more excuses, get organised in the kitchen or bathroom! The Loft Towel Holder is available from Proleno for £6.95.
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 Those passionate about their coffee will almost certainly have encountered the Bialetti brand. The company’s history goes back to 1919 when the first workshop was opened in Crusinallo to make aluminium products. Its first stove-top espresso maker, the Moka Express, appeared in 1933 and revolutionised home coffee making. The ‘Little man with a moustache’ trademark was created in the 1950s by Paul Campani and features on the company’s products to this day.
Whilst the stove-top versions remain as popular as ever today, the introduction of the Moka Easy electric in 3-cup and 6-cup models added convenience. Note that cup size used by Bialetti refers to Italian demi-tasse espresso size (personally I go for a 3-cup shot – OK, so I get a little jittery with the caffeine rush!)
 Now, in 2008, Bialetti have released the Moka Elettrika – a travel version that can operate with 110V to 230V. All you need, wherever you are, is a power outlet, some water and of course some quality coffee. The Elettrika doesn’t appear to be available in the UK yet, but since it’s a travel coffee maker it can’t be too long before it turns up!
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 With barbecue season upon us, it’s time to brace yourself for those uncooked sausages with crunchy black skins! But it doesn’t have to be like that – there’s a Danish company that produces the Hot Wok outdoor cooking system. With a 7kW gas burner and wok pan you could be enjoying delicious stir-fried meals al fresco in no time at all. Even if Asian cuisine is not your thing, there are a range of accessories including a grill and paella pan. The manufacturer also provides some cooking tips. So why not try a new take on barbecue this summer?
You can buy the Hot Wok at Proleno for £74.95.
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Despite the recent miserable weather, I’m still hopeful that we will have some summer sun before too long. The prospect of balmy evenings in the garden with a glass of chilled wine (carefully counting the units of course!) is particularly pleasing. So let’s take a look at that essential accessory – the wine cooler.
 The new innovation on the block is the Egg-O, conceived and developed in Vienna. The unique feature of the Egg-O is the lid, which has flexible fins on the inner side. This allows the lid to adapt to different bottle shapes. With the handle incorporated into the cooler, there’s no need to remove the bottle for pouring – the wine keeps chilled for longer and you don’t drip condensation everywhere. The robust construction also makes this great for picnics. The Egg-O is available in four colours – blue, red, green and cream. You can buy the Egg-O at Proleno for £26.95.
If you want something stylish, with functionality, take a look at the Bachus wine cooler by Zack of Germany. In brushed 18/10 stainless steel and incorporating three cooling elements, the Bachus will grace any table indoors or out. The inner cooling pack liner can be frozen before use to provide additional chilling. The Bachus is available at Proleno for £38.95.
 Zack have a number of stainless steel wine coolers in their range. The Oletto, shown right, is the only one that has a mirror-polished finish – this will really catch the sun if it ever comes out!!
You can buy the Oletto wine cooler for £41.95.
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 New from Wesco, the Classic Line range brings retro style and colour to the kitchen. Constructed from powder-coated stainless steel, these designer products are chic and durable. Kettles, storage canisters, cookie boxes and bread bins are available now at Proleno. Other items in the range will be coming soon.
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 Finally, Zack’s Combo multi-roll holder is now on the shelves in Proleno’s warehouse. Many are being dispatched today to fulfill pre-orders, but we have more stock on order! If you want more details or to buy this sleek and functional piece of kitchen equipment, click on the image to the right.
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 Early February sees the annual pilgrimage of aficionados of the design world to Frankfurt for Ambiente, the largest consumer goods fair in the world. With fresh ideas and high-quality products from more than 4,600 exhibitors from around 90 different countries it’s a must for retailers like Proleno to experience tomorrow’s design trends today!
Running from 8-12 February 2008 (which luckily includes a Saturday and Sunday) what a great excuse for a weekend away! As well as enjoying ourselves, we’ll be busy looking for great new products to bring to the website.
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 Redman (nicknamed the ‘hold-up’ for his submissive stance) is a product of the team at Conka Design that has captured the imagination of many people. With consideration for sustainability, the packaging of the Redman is made from recyclable cardboard – and includes a nifty cutout beermat! This sturdy chap can even open two bottles simultaneously (see the youtube video).
Conka Design was founded by Chris Facey, Daniel Ashman, Dave Poole and Mark Hodge, following the completion of their product design course at the University of Glamorgan. They undertake product design commissions from around the world as well as producing their own products. The team have further plans for the Redman, so you may see him undertaking household tasks other than bottle opening!
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