In preparation for the arrival of the their exclusive 2008 upholstery collection, Curley's management and sales teams have recently undertaken an intensive four-day product training course at Fama Headquarters in Spain.

This week Deirdre O'Shaughnessy speaks to Dr Ronnie O'Toole, Chief Economist with National Irish Bank, about the Irish dependence on cheques and cash, which currently costs our economy approximately €1 billion every year.

A seminar on how to promote your business will be held in Galway on Tuesday, 10 June. The seminar, run by the Irish Academy of Public Relations, will be hosted by Dublin-based expert Ellen Gunning, who is the Academy's director. She will give a presentation entitled 'Ten red hot tips on how to promote your business'.

The Minister for Trade and Commerce John McGuinness has announced €3.6m in new contracts for Irish firms in Mexico during the latter half of this week's Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission to Latin America. It follows on from the €5.5m in contracts secured in Brazil at the beginning of the week.

The exclusive three year contract between Aer Arann and Hertz Europe will provide customers with access to special offers and the best available rates from Hertz Rent a Car in France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the UK, Aer Arann's destination markets.

Tanaiste Mary Coughlan signed into Irish law the European Communities (Cross-order Mergers) Regulations 2008, which have immediate effect. The regulations transpose into Irish legislation a new EC directive on cross-border mergers.

Enjoy England, the England marketing division of VisitBritain, Britain's national tourism agency, has invested in partnership with Ireland West Airport Knock in a campaign to promote holiday breaks from Ireland West Airport Knock to England. The marketing campaign will incorporate regional radio and press advertising, national radio campaigns on RTE's 2 FM and Today FM as well as online marketing activity.

Club Denim group, one of Ireland's most innovative independent retailers, has signed up to lease the ground and first floor units of the much-anticipated Newtownsmith Development.

I have just opened up a small business, with two full time and one part time staff. Do I need written contracts or are verbal contracts sufficient?

A spin-out company from University College Galway, now a global player in the oil and gas industry, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.