|
This month we'll be looking back at our 3rd birthday, saying 'hello' to Japan; catching up with one of our borrowers and meeting a couple of the Zopa team. Sit down with a cuppa, it's a full edition.
|
 |
On 7th March, we celebrated our 3rd birthday. There was much merriment, balloon blowing and cake. It was a proud moment as Giles looked back over the last 3 years at Zopa, remembered old friends and marvelled at how far we've come. We all said a big 'cheers' to all the borrowers and lenders that have helped get Zopa where we are today. |
 Our Jesper did a stirling job inflating a mountain of balloons. |
|
|
We've always had a yen to go to Japan, so there were shouts of 'hooray' when we announced we are launching there. As with any launch, there's lots to be done and we'll be keeping you informed but for now, it's safe in the hands of Chairman Takeshi Yoneda and CEO Tatsuya Kuboi. http://jp.zopa.com/ Screen shot of Japan splash screen please. 
|
|
|
There's excitement in the Zopa office as we've been nominated for the award: 'Most Threatening Non-Bank Competitor' at the upcoming Retail Banker International Global Awards ceremony. We'll let you know how we do.Most threatening... we think we're rather nice actually! |
|
Bob Blackman (aka injector) lives in sunny Cornwall and came to Zopa for a loan to self publish his trilogy of books and set up his publishing company, Anarchadia. Since getting the loan, his first book, The Horsepower Whisperer is now on sale. We thought it was about time we caught up with him to see how things are progressing. Hi Bob. How did you hear about Zopa? I found Zopa on the internet when I was looking for a means of raising some capital to self-publish my books. I drew up a list of criteria and found thatZopa metthem all. That is good news indeed! Why did you decide to go on to use Zopa? The main attraction was the great rate that I was offered. It was extremely competitive and there was alsothe chance to pay it back early. I liked this option becasue I don't really like borrowing moneybut I'm comfortable with Zopaand will now let the loan run its course. The other thing I really like about Zopa is that there are no middle men. This is why I am comfortable with it- Zopa uses the power of the net tolink me directly to my lenders. It's people helping themsleves and each other, a kind of mutually beneficial community that only the net could achieve. It's very close to some of the ideas I want to explore with Anarchadia, the land of anarchic arcadia.I have been in contact with my lenders and even met some of them.My book publishing adventures intrigue them. Snap! I'm intrigued too.. tell me more. How did you find borrowing at Zopa? Very simple. I felt like I was in the driving seat. I chosethe rates and term of the loan and this suited my lenders. You don't much simpler than that. OK, now lets talk about your book. Has self publishing been what you expected? I knew it would be hard work but I hadn't anticipated the buzz I get from it. It is really weird hearing my readers talking about characters that have existed in my head for some years. One guy even used the deja vu perfect on me - this is a new verb tense I invented to cope with future events that happened in the past. There's a certain amount of time travel involved in The Horsepower Whisperer, you see. If you could give one piece of advice to any aspiring authors, what would it be? Keep on keeping on. Play the song of that title by The Redskins whenever you are in doubt or feel washed up. Get reviews before you publish and be as good as you can at everything. Hire an editor and a graphic designer even if you're brilliant at writing or artwork. Decide what you are good at and target your efforts to maximise their impact - if it's difficult you're doing it wrong. Outsource if you need to - a skilled and practised person can often do it quicker and better provided you get what you want. Hey, nothing wrong with giving extra advice Bob. Is there anything you'd like to say to your Lenders? First of all a big and heartfelt thank you to you all. Secondly, buy my book! And get all your friends to as well. Check out the blogs on my Zopa-funded website www.anarchadia.co.ukto keep up with the latest developments, special features and items of added value. I'm already placing my order! When is your next book released? The Wormton Lamb is all ready to go but I'm going to sit on it fora bit until I have established more of a reputation for myself with The Horsepower Whisperer. This book needs more time to spread its wings. It will also help the subsequent launch of The Wormton Lamb if I can say "New from Bob Blackman,author of the hugely successful cult classic The Horsepower Whisperer." Of course, there's nothing to stop me saying that now but I would prefer it if it were true. I will probably release it for Easter 2009. How has your life changed over the last few months? It's got very busy. Time is a relative concept and self publishing shortens time. But I can honestly say that hearing that people haveenjoyed The Horsepower Whisperer can't be beaten. Certainly must make the long hours worthwhile. Who would you love to have review your books? Jasper Fforde and Terry Pratchett -I asked Jasper Fforde for a review and he sent me back a postcard of a giant vegetable to say that he regretted that he no longer had the time to read for pleasure but wished me well with my writing. He didn't have to do that. I reckon he's a top chap. Top chap indeed. And finally.. the question we've all been longing to ask. You're trapped in a lift with 3 people, whowould they be? Carlo Abarth - he was a real horsepower whisperer, who could get Fiats to do amazing things, and I've always wanted to learn Italian. Debbie Harry - she's my favourite female singer and we could make sweet music together. Giorgetto Giugiaro - the car designer, so long as he brought loads of paper and some extra crayons. Carlo, Debbie and Giorgetto are also well known for being calm in a crisis and for possessing enormous bladders. Thanks Bob, it is always a pleasure talking to you. 
|
|
|
|
We've got two lovely new faces to show you. All together now... Cheeeeeese.  Here's Anuradha (on the left) and Raoul.
Anuradha loves bells and Raoul is rather fond of goats. Anyone else feel like breaking into song? "High on a hill was a lonely goatherd..." Hello Anuradha. What name have you chosen to use on the Zopa discussion boards? You'll find me posting as anu. Excellent, we'll keep an eye out for you. What are you doing at Zopa? I'm working in the Operations department, so lots of customer contact, repayment collection, data maintenance and reconciliation. I'm on the hunt for interesting facts about you. Care to share one? I was a Bharatnatyam dancer. That is one of India's traditional dances. I'll know where to come to for lessons then! If you had to name two of your favourite things, what would they be? I love trekking, and bells. Tell you what, we can probably somehow mix those two. Perfection! Thanks Anuradha. Hi Raoul, what name should people be looking for on our discussion boards if they want to speak to you? My discussion board ID is raoul. I like it. Straight to the point there. What have you come to Zopa to do? Ive come to Zopa as a back end web developer. It's great to have you on board. We'd like to learn more about you Raoul, do you have an interesting fact to share with us? I am the great, great grandson of John Everett Millais the well-known pre-Raphaelite artist, though I have no idea what happened to the artistic talent, I certainly don't have any! Hey, I'm sure you do. So, imagine you are Maria in 'The Sound of Music'. What are a few of your favourite things? Some of my favourite things are: Cooking, drinking, programming and, of course, goats (the best ruminant of all!) |
|
|
If you'd like to be interviewed for next month's edition, or if you have any good ideas for stories, please send an email to amy@zopa.com |
|
If you prefer not to receive communication like this from Zopa, no hard feelings. Email contactus@zopa.com to let us know. Just so you know it's us, your username is ###. |
|
|
Zopa Limited. |