A Closer Look at Windsocks and How to Choose the Best Option

March 3, 2018 No comments Article

Windsocks or wind cones are made from cloth that has been turned into a tube-like or cone-like shape. It is commonly used to determine the direction in which the wind is blowing. This device is helpful in gauging the wind speed. They are called windsocks because they are shaped like giant socks.

They are usually made from light materials or flexible fabric. Nylon is one of the most popular options. They are also seen in various colours, but orange is the most popular. It stands out and can be easily spotted from afar.

Determining the wind direction

Windsocks flow freely as the wind blows. However, it does not go in the direction of the wind. It is in the opposite direction. Therefore, if the windsock is moving towards the West, it means that the wind comes from the East.

Determining the wind speed

Windsocks are usually placed in high locations such as poles that are at least 6 feet long. This gives the windsocks enough freedom to move with the wind but still remain clearly visible. When the windsock is fully inflated, it means that the wind is blowing at 17 mph.

Industries that use windsocks

There are a lot of industries making use of a commercial windsock. These include chemical plants as they are at risk of possible gas leaks and the aviation industry where wind speed and direction are essential factors. Highways also have windsocks so as to give motorists some idea regarding wind speed. They are also helpful for weather forecasts.

Windsock poles

Aside from the windsock itself, you also need to buy the pole. It has to be stable and sturdy enough to withstand weather conditions. Otherwise, the windsock will fall from its place and it won’t be able to be used anymore. The price depends on the quality of the material used for the pole. Usually, the windsock itself is sold at an affordable price, but not the poles, which are quite expensive.

Getting help

You won’t have the time to deal with all the complexities of using a windsock. You also don’t want to just focus on one aspect of the business or the industry you are working for. The best choice is to ask for help from a company that sells windsocks. They won’t just give you advice on what type of windsock to use, they can also help with the installation. You just have to agree with the terms and they will be willing to provide the services you need. It is better than doing it yourself or asking someone who is not really an expert in windsock installation.

Image: Pixabay.com

Strategies for Entrepreneurs

January 31, 2018 No comments Article

Have you decided the time is right to launch your own business? Have you developed a product or service that meets a market need? Put your seat belt on and prepare to work harder and longer hours than you ever have. What are the secrets of a successful business? They go far beyond the starting point of developing a product or service. Keep your eye on the bottom line – you’re in business to make a profit. Know what your costs are and treat your customers with the utmost care and respect. The foundation of every successful business is a solid business plan. Consider this to be your road map to success. Follow these recommendations from the successful start-up gurus to ensure your business is launched for success.

Whether you’re self-financing, seeking a bank loan or venture capital, commit to developing a solid business plan. Enlist the assistance of a mentor from the Chamber of Commerce or your local start-up garage. What are your costs to develop and deliver your product or service? How will you market, brand and bring your product to market? Have you established that there is indeed a market for your product or service? Finally, how long do you anticipate it to take to become profitable and how much cash will you need to support the business until it becomes profitable?

In the start-up phase of every business, watch your costs like a hawk. Keep your personal expenses to a bare minimum and funnel all revenue back into the company to develop and deliver your product. Take advantage of the awesome deals offered by Groupon coupons and snag a compandsave coupon to source the least expensive ink and toner cartridges. If you anticipate the bulk of your income and sales to be generated from your website, hire a professional. The website should clearly state the benefits and features of your product and have a product selection tab and shopping cart that are intuitive for the consumer or business.

Finally, commit to running your business with the highest ethical standards. Don’t make promises that you can’t deliver. When problems arise, and they will, communicate immediately with your employees or clients and let them know the steps you’re taking to resolve the issue. Best of luck to you in launching a successful business!

 

3 Top Tips for More Effective Hotel Recruitment in Dublin

January 8, 2018 No comments Article

Ever wonder if you are really doing all you can to get the best staff for your Dublin hotel? Yes, you conduct thorough interviews and you do background checks, and you hire people for the crucial hospitality roles you need to fill. But are you certain you’re getting the absolute best?

Hotels in Dublin and across Ireland thrive on finding the best quality staff to run their establishments. If you have a robust recruitment procedure but you want to go a little further for success, here are some tips.

1. Find Out What Makes a Good Employee Great

There’s no denying hotel recruitment in dublin can be a tough job. But you already have some valuable assets on your side. Who’s the best person to tell you the best person for the job? The high-performer you already have on your staff. Find out what makes them so good at their job. Take a look at their qualities and skills. Ask them what they would look for in someone doing their own job. Consult them on what they think makes them so good at their role. Make a list of the attributes and qualities you come up with and make sure you include a way to check on these in the recruitment process.

2. Create the Ideal Interview Guide

Create and maintain an interview guide that includes what you are looking for in different hospitality staff members, how you are going to measure this, and a list of typical interview questions. This will help you if you are interviewing everyone by yourself, but it will also help if you need to give the interviewing job to another team member. This way you can ensure that you are carrying out a fair and effective interview for every position you want to fill.

3. Give Interview Training

If members of the team are going to be interviewing, make sure they are up to speed. This means you can focus on other aspects of running your business while being confident the hiring process is in good hands. Set up interview training sessions that focus on getting the best person for the job, objectively speaking, and minimising gut reactions and guesswork. It also helps if you get some training in interview techniques if you are the person to make the hiring decisions.

It may seem like too much extra work to carry out tasks like this to improve your recruitment process, but it really does pay off in the long-term. You end up being able to recruit the best staff, who are more likely to stay in the job and thus cut down your recruitment hassles in the future.

Image: Image courtesy of Graphics Mouse/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Vacations_g208-Reception_p28306.html

Photocopier Leasing: How to Choose the Best Provider

January 5, 2018 No comments Article

Leasing business equipment is a growing trend among enterprises of all sizes, for many good reasons. If you are looking for a copying / printing solution for your business here are some solid reasons why leasing should be considered.

A fixed monthly charge is paid based on the monthly volume of copies and impressions. All the scans performed are free in many contracts.

There is access to the latest generation multifunctional or copier equipment without any need to tie up important economic resources.

Suitable equipment is installed according to the specific needs of your company.

The cost of leasing normally includes all consumables such as toner (except paper).

The cost of leasing also includes all the parts and spare parts required for the proper functioning of the equipment.

Permanent telephone support and remote support is provided if required.

Technical service or preventive or corrective maintenance on site is guaranteed within a period not exceeding 24 hours (business days).

If spare parts are not available to maintain equipment operational within 24 hours, replacement equipment is provided if necessary.

While contracts can also be signed for 12, 18 and 24 months and for specific projects (days, weeks, months), it may be more beneficial to consider a longer term such as three years, if it meets your needs, as it may allow for lower leasing payments than would be incurred in contracts with shorter terms. According to experts in photocopier leasing in Reading this is because the shorter the period of the rental contract, the higher the amount to be paid for the rental of the equipment due to the amortization cost of the leased equipment.

Usually, the supplier will guarantee a permanent fixed cost during the leasing period, regardless of any increase in the cost of consumables, spare parts and labour of the technical services performed.

If the volume of printing and copying increases considerably, adjustments can be made to the contract either to modify the monthly volume of copies without having to change the equipment that is currently used or consider changing the equipment to a model more suitable for such volume, according to the new needs of the company.

Reputable coper leasing suppliers will have equipment for all needs depending on the size of your company or business, along with multiple hardware and software solutions to provide security in the handling of your documents, which will allow you to properly manage electronic documents and safeguard your data.

Some things to look for in your service provider are the following:

  • How many years of experience in the field?

  • Are they an authorised dealer for well-known brands such as Konica Minolta and Sharp, etc.?

  • Are they an authorised service centre for the big brands?

  • Do they provide service that allows them to deal with any maintenance service or service issue in no more than 24 hours?

Regardless of the size of your business or company, nowadays, the use of multifunctional copying / printing / scanning equipment is necessary; hence the importance that you have peace of mind that your equipment will operate in optimal conditions and be backed by the support of experts to solve any problem or supply consumables and spare parts that may be required at any time.

It is more convenient for the company to have a multifunctional equipment adapted to their specific needs and in their own establishment, as the cost of what they pay for each copy or impression is less than what they would pay at any copying centre.

How to Choose a Security Company to Deploy Security Guards for Your Business

January 3, 2018 No comments Article

Security guards are still important in any business. You can install security cameras but they can only record footage of crimes. They won’t prevent criminals from committing a crime. Your first line of defense should be security guards. They will tackle the criminal if circumstances call for it. They are also well-equipped to confront these bad people. They have trained to become physically fit for doing the job. There are different agencies available that you can work with to hire the best security guards for the job.

Make sure that security is their priority

There are companies deploying security guards but their main priority is not really to ensure security. They just deploy people with different work experience to do the job. They might not even have trained these people to perform the duties well. Hire guards from an agency that specialises in security. They only have the best people on their team.

The company should have a good reputation

This is very important. You want to partner with a reputable agency when it comes to security. They must have positive ratings from their previous clients. They must have also created a strong brand related to security. You cannot just settle for any agency simply because you feel like they offer cheaper services. Quality is the priority.

Flexibility

You also want the agency to provide security guards who can work depending on your company’s needs. Your schedule might not be the same as other companies. Regardless of the time of the day or night when their services are needed, there should be someone deployed to do the job well.

Training of the guards

You will feel more confident if you have security guards who have trained well for this job. You need someone who can handle emergency situations. Daily routines are a part of the job but they should not feel confident just because they keep doing the same thing each day. Crimes can happen any time and in the most unexpected situations.

Cost of the service

This should not be a priority when it comes to the criteria for choosing a security agency, but it should still be a part of the selection process. You don’t want to splurge on security alone as you have other things to spend your money on. You need to know if you have to pay the company on a weekly or monthly basis. Will there be a flat rate or will it depend on the employee whom they have sent to do the job? Will they cover the cost for uniforms and equipment or will it be shouldered by your company? These are smaller details that can affect the cost of such a service.

If your business is within the Oxford area, consult experts in security services Oxford offers if you are interested in hiring security guards for your business.

6 Ideas to Promote Your Business

January 1, 2018 No comments Article

Are you looking for a way to boost your business sales? Stuck for inspiration? Promotional items used as advertising tools are very useful!

Materials such as promotional merchandise, banners, gifts, press releases, and profiles in social media, effectively contribute to the positioning of your brand; helping you to establish an identity that distinguishes you and your business from others.

Through these advertising elements it is feasible to build brand perception. Promoting a brand through these powerful advertising tools is a very effective method to achieve greater brand awareness, and increase your sales.

These are ideal mechanisms to promote potential advertising opportunities for your brand, so here are some suggestions you should consider when it comes to using promotional merchandise as an advertising resource:

1. Use promotional items to increase the visibility of your brand

By using promotional gifts such as T-shirts, bags, toys, phone chargers, USB drives, etc. with the name of your business or simply your brand message on them, your brand will be noticed and remembered with a minimum of investment required. Get brand recognition through these inexpensive advertising tools.

2. Build consumer loyalty through promotional products

Customers are pleased when they receive practical and durable promotional gifts, especially ones they can use frequently such as phone chargers, USB drives, etc. Promotional elements with your printed logo are timely and have a long service life. Build consumer loyalty by rewarding your best customers with helpful promotional gifts.

3. Use promotional merchandise to increase traffic to your website

Increase the flow of visitors to your website by giving away promotional items. Your brand will get a guaranteed boost in exposure, and increased traffic with each additional visit to your site. Don’t forget to harness the power of social media to push your promotion!

4. Corporate promotional gifts help to get customer support

With a wide range of prices and items to choose from, you are sure to be able to find something suitable for your customers, based on your business, products, and sector in which you operate. Express your gratitude to your customers by giving away a fine and sophisticated corporate gift that will win their loyal support for a much longer period of time.

5. Create a distinctive identity for your brand through quality promotional gifts

Develop a unique identity for your brand by establishing seasonal and diverse promotional activities to communicate your brand message to consumers.

6. Get recognition at fairs and events

It is opportune to distribute appropriate promotional merchandise at trade fairs and business events. The audience that attends the event can become potential clients, so try to at least participate in the most relevant events for your business sector.

Undoubtedly, if you get creative with using promotional merchandise to communicate your brand message and reward loyal customers, your sales force will also thank you!

4 Reasons Why Print Ads are Still Effective Today

December 25, 2017 No comments Article

Given the popularity and effectiveness of digital advertisements, it is easy to brush off the idea of using print ads to boost a business. The truth is that print ads are still effective and a lot of businesses are still using them. Here are some more reasons why prints ads should still be used today.

  1. They have a larger impact

According to studies, print ads have a longer-lasting impact on readers. In a test comparing what people learned from both online and print ads, it was obvious that the print ads were more effective. People remembered the details better.

  1. They can target local audiences even more

The good thing about digital advertising is that it can reach as many people as possible. However, this is not necessarily targeted advertising. You might reach a lot of people but not all of them are the right audience. Print ads on the other hand are effective in the sense that you can choose exactly who to advertise to and where. You already know your target audience and how to reach them. You can even design the ads based on what you think would be more appealing for them. For small businesses, this is really effective. There is no need for you to advertise to a lot of people at once. You need to simply introduce your company to local audiences and entice them to buy what you offer.

  1. Not everyone can be reached online

There is nothing wrong in shifting your attention to online advertisements especially if you have seen that a lot of your target audience are using the Internet for their daily dose of information. However, you also need to understand that there are people who are not online all the time. This is true especially for the older demographics. You still need to couple your online ads with print ads for better results.

  1. They are more tangible

People usually equate tangibility with trustworthiness. As the adage goes, to see is to believe. If they can hold a print ad, they will feel closer to your company. It is way better than just some pop-ups online that are nothing short of an annoyance. It is also not easy determining which ads online can be trusted and which cannot. Print ads on the other hand have been around for a long time and people trust the information they find on these ads.

If you need some leaflets printing or are interested in flyer printing for promoting your business, your marketing strategy is probably heading in the right direction, and will help improve your business and make it even more popular.

Be Fully Prepared for an Exhibit with the Right Pop Up Partner

December 24, 2017 No comments Article

Joining an exhibit can be a stressful and nerve-wracking affair – especially if it’s your first time to do so. You’re probably thinking that you’d be running around from one place to another, not be able to find something important, forget an essential exhibit item, or would not be able to set up your stand or booth in time.

Well, the last item can at least be taken off your worries – if you have the right partner. And with the right partner, we mean the right pop up exhibition display stand. With popup stands, you don’t have to worry about setting up your display – in fact, you can do it in minutes, a complete package done in no time. Here’s how a good pop up stand can help you be fully prepared for an exhibit.

The complete package for your show

Whether you’re joining an exhibition, a trade show, a product showcase, a fete, or a conference, you needn’t worry about being prepared. You needn’t worry about the hassle of setting up individual pieces of your booth, taking up too much of your time and effort.

A good pop up display stand (such as the ones produced by Roller Banner UK) is a veritable investment for your business, an asset which you can make use of multiple times at multiple events. So what can you expect with a good pop up display? Here’s what:

  • An exhibition stand which comes complete with its own deluxe carry case (wheeled), graphic panels, and lights (you don’t even have to bring any lights for your display – it comes in the package)

  • High quality prints on the graphic panels using premium, innovative ink and brilliant images

  • Graphic panels which are printed on stoplight material (360-micron) and which also comes with an anti-glare laminate that gives extra protection for your panels

  • Trimmed banners (for a more streamlined, professional look) along with magnetic stripes which allow you to easily clip the banner to the frame

  • A total of four sizes for any kind of event – from 3 x 1 to 3 x 4

  • A total of two lights, except for the 3 x 1 display, which comes with one light

  • Free delivery from the right service

  • Incredible value for money, such as that provided by Roller Banner UK, with pop up display stand prices starting from only £455 (excluding VAT).

Joining a show or exhibition is definitely an investment for your business and your brand, because it gives you added exposure to your target audience and suppliers and other leading players in your industry. If you want your investment to give back much more than you ever expected, the proper pop up stand is a must.

The First Three Steps You Should Follow when Planning a Move

December 14, 2017 No comments Article

Moving to a new home or business can be quite an exciting endeavour; it’s certainly an exciting time if you are moving to your dream home or are moving to expand your business. But planning – and packing – for your move can quickly become stressful if you don’t do it in the proper way. There is a right way to go about planning and packing for a move, and by following these three steps from the beginning, your move need not be as stressful as you may think.

The first step: declutter

Before you even start packing, you should look through your things so that you can decide which items you will take, and which items will be thrown away, given away, or sold. The last thing you want is to load a moving lorry or van with items which you’ll throw away in the end. You should check each room, starting with the loft, garage, kitchen, and then the various bedrooms. You may be surprised to learn that you have a lot more things than you thought you had – so decluttering your belongings should help you pack more easily.

The second step: decide where your things will go

The next step is actually a pleasant one: you have to decide where your items will go in your new home or business location. Picture the place where you are planning to move to, and think carefully about where you will place your existing furniture. It’s a good idea to have the dimensions of every room in your new place so that you can figure out which furniture will fit where. If you think some pieces of furniture won’t fit, it may be time to think about selling or giving them away.

Also make it a point to visit the property where you are going to move to so that you can easily confirm the measurements and see it for yourself, as advised by the removals experts from http://www.advanced-removals.co.uk.

The third step: are you going to make use of a removals firm?

The third step is also pretty easy (compared to packing, that is): decide whether you will hire the services of a removals firm, or whether you can do everything on your own. This will greatly depend on the number of items you have and how big your current place is. If you live in a one-bedroom, ground floor flat and don’t have too many items, perhaps you can just hire a removals van. But if you have a two- or three-bedroom home or a large business, it would make more sense to get help from a removals firm, especially when it comes to loading, unloading and transporting your goods. With a good removals company as your moving partner, you can benefit from a more stress- and hassle-free move, with less physical work to boot.

Laptop insurance policies – What does it cover and what is still exposed?

September 11, 2015 No comments Article

Are you a small business owner who uses laptops throughout the day? If answered yes, insuring your laptops is not at all a luxury, rather it is a necessity. However, locating the best policy for your laptop is often confusing due to the large number of insurance policies that are available in the market. As laptops are portable devices, they are susceptible to falling off from your hand, liquid spilling, theft, damage due to fire or any other unfortunate incident, it is better to get them insured as this way you can protect your hard-earned dollars on repairing that item or buying another new one. Below mentioned is a guide that will help you ensure that you’ve got enough insurance coverage to protect your equipment.

Laptop insurance for commercial purposes

Depending on the way you use laptops for your commercial purposes, you can think of getting various levels of protection from different types of insurance coverage. Here are some of them:

  • Homeowners insurance: Do you operate your tech firm from your home? If yes, then it is most likely that your laptop must be included within your homeowner’s insurance policy, particularly when you use your laptop for mostly personal reasons. But in case you primarily use your laptop for commercial purposes, you will most likely require added insurance because homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover any of your business assets, even when it’s operated at home.
  • Cyber liability insurance: While property insurance protects your laptop, it won’t safeguard you from some specific types of liability that is associated with the work that you do on your laptop. For instance, if your laptop is attacked by virus and that virus spreads itself to the computers of all your clients, you could be held responsible for such damages. In such cases, cyber liability insurance protects you against data breaches and other financial loss.
  • Property insurance: Most business firms have property insurance that covers certain equipments like laptops and software. If your laptop is stolen, lost or damaged due to certain reasons, property insurance can pay for the cost of repairing. There are some cases when owners of small technology companies see that they can get property insurance with some discounts. Through BOP insurance, it is possible to combine property insurance with general liability.

What is not covered by your laptop insurance?

You should also know at the same time what your laptop insurance doesn’t cover. Here are some such details.

  • Dangers that are not included: There is nothing called comprehensive insurance coverage as every policy excludes few things. So, before choosing a policy, ensure it includes coverage for mishaps that cause damage.
  • New devices: If you suddenly expand your business by buying new equipment, you might need to update your insurance policy too. Speak to your agent to know about it.

Hence, when it comes to laptop insurance, you have to be careful enough what your policy covers and what it doesn’t. Always keep checking with your agent so that you don’t make a wrong decision.