Monthly Archives: April 2018

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How To Plan A Perfect Summer Celebration!

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With summer just around the corner, many people have at least one or two celebrations to attend. Despite the British climate we often envisage our events to take place outdoors, under a perfect blue sky. If you have the task of planning an outdoor event, a little preparation now will ensure the event is memorable for all the right reasons.

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The earlier you start to plan your event, the better. If your event is large you may need to look at regulations relating to holding big events in your area, particularly if you wish to feature loud music or fireworks.

Research your venue

It is important to visit the venue and carefully plan the space you have available. If you have a good idea on the numbers of people attending, you will need enough space to ensure your guests are comfortable, but not so much space that the guests look lost! Take photographs and measurements, even if the venue is your own garden, as the photographs will help you plan where to position tables etc.

If you have live music, the band will likely need access to power for equipment and all-weather protection. Allow space for a dance floor and arrange tables accordingly.

The entertainment you plan needs to be suitable for all ages and your aim is to create a fun happy atmosphere. If children are attending you could consider hiring an entertainer. A popular choice of entertainment is to hire a photo booth, Trez Entertainment have a great selection of booths and props.

Food

Think about where your food will be served from and where you will situate the bar. Toilets are also another essential consideration, if you are going to hire portaloo style facilities, think carefully on where you will situate them, preferably well away from food, but close enough for them to be lit when the sun sets.

What food to serve your guests is a huge consideration. You could hire outside caterers to lower the pressure, or cater yourself. Another popular option would be to ask all your guests to bring a dish to share.

A hog roast is normally very popular, as it feeds a crowd, Remember the vegetarians in your party by offering veggie options!

Drinks

summer cocktail

Drinks should be freely available without the need to queue for long periods. Hire plenty of bar staff if your event is large, or position drinks tables where they are easily accessible. Hopefully the weather will be lovely and warm, so ensuring your guests are hydrated is a priority.

Ensure you cater for all tastes, whether alcoholic or not and ensure there are plenty of options for children. If you have lots of families with young children attending consider using plastic glasses for safety.

Finishing touches

Finally you can have fun decorating your venue. You may have a colour scheme in mind, especially for summer weddings, or you could consider a theme for celebrations such as a victorian garden party, Hollywood or medieval banquet! A white table cloth is always a good base for any decor you wish to add, you can then let your imagination run wild.

Finally remember to plan for all eventualities. The weather could be a major factor as to whether your event is successful or not so consider hiring a gazebo to provide shelter.

Have fun!

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Are You Making It Easy for Your Customers to Buy Your Products?

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Something that too few people think about when they’re selling their products is how easy it is they’re making it for their customers. Or rather, they neglect to think about the customer experience and, as a result, they make it difficult or bothersome for their consumers.

For example, have you ever purchased something online that required you to sign up for their services or an account? Have you ever been pestered about joining a club or a membership program just because you bought a single item in a store? These are the types of issues that people regularly face and it can completely ruin your chances of actually making a successful sale.

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Back off and don’t bother your consumers

We should all know that communicating with your customers is important. Whether you’re speaking to them about your products or telling them the details of your latest offers, it’s crucial that you have an open conversation with anyone that is interested in your products. However, there will come a time when you’ll realize that being a bother and constantly pestering your audience can have an adverse effect on your business.

Sadly, the only way to avoid this is to actually just back off and leave your customers be. Although you might have their email and other important contact information, it doesn’t mean you should spam them with offers, discount codes and so on. Allow them to make their own decisions and use other methods of advertisement to help your brand stick in the minds of consumers.

Offer various payment methods to your customers

Another important thing to keep in mind is that you need to offer varying payment methods to your customers. This essentially means offering your customers various ways to pay, finance or subscribe to your services. For example, a good payment method to include nowadays is PayPal. It’s one of the most popular online wallets available and it has integration with many of the e-commerce modules that you probably already use. This makes it versatile, easy to set up and allows you to market your products to a wider audience.

Another good example of additional payment methods is financing. However, this is usually only a good choice for expensive purchases like vehicles. Consider using a service like Consumer Portfolio Services if you operate a car dealership or a similar business that regularly sells expensive items that make sense to be financed. By offering financing options, you make it much more viable for your audience to purchase your more expensive items.

Some final words

Making it easy for your audience to purchase your products or services is always a good thing to keep in mind. Focus on the customer experience and make sure you’re making changes to your business model or website in order to accommodate this. If you’re unsure what changes you should be making, then you may want to consult your audience for feedback via social media or comments on your product pages or website.

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Making Your Business Feel More Like Home

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Making a business feel more like home is sometimes the exact opposite of what we want to do. We go to the office or the lobby or the shop floor to work, and then when we get home again we have the ability to relax in our own space. And it works for most of us! However, when you’re an entrepreneur, and you’ve got your own company on the tab to look after, you’ve got to make sure you want to spend as much time in it as you do your own living room.

When we’re at home, we’re comfortable, and the same should go for our business as well. You see, when we’re comfortable, we make better decisions and do a lot more for ourselves when it comes to succeeding, and that’s important for staying at the top of your game when you’re working for your own company. You need advantages here there and everywhere, and it’s hard to gain such an edge when you’re a small time business in an otherwise big business world. So without further ado, let’s get into some of the techniques.

 

This office looks picturesque and feels very productive at the same time…So why shouldn’t yours? (Source)

 

Start with Your Office Walls

Your office is the place where the bulk of your work gets done, and whether it’s the center of your business or just the backroom off of the main shop, it’s the hub of your company. So it needs to be the place you go to first to make sure you’re doing your best work.

Think on the decorating first, as the colors of the wall and floor of your office are going to have a much bigger impact on how you feel than you think. There’s been a lot of research into how the different primary and secondary colors on the spectrum affect us, and you should use these facts to your advantage to try and make yourself go the extra mile each day. Blue is a prime example here; it does a lot for your mind to make it stay awake and keep chugging through, which is why a lot of social media apps and websites base their color scheme on it.

However, lighter or more saturated colors like that of yellow and orange are the best for making sure you’re happy to keep on going. So mix your color scheme together for better harmony and much more of a balance in your work life. You’re going to need all the tricks you can get to work and constantly be comfortable at the same time with the long hours!

Setting Up Furniture

The furniture comes next on the list, and it’s the next thing you shouldn’t underestimate in your strive to make sure your office is as much a home as your real home. Furniture really completes both the look and the practicality of your working environment, so don’t skimp on any of the prices if you feel one chair or desk would be better than another.

If you’re working on a budget, as small businesses often are, try a second-hand or thrift store first. It’s a great place for someone like you to find a lot of hidden gems at discounted prices, and you don’t have to sacrifice any comfort in your search for the best use out of your office. After all, it can’t be sold in these places unless it’s both been well-loved and still in good use nowadays.

Seeing as you’re going to be behind a desk for most of the day, you need to make sure you’re not putting your health at risk. And that involves keeping your back supported and upright for all the time you’re typing way. That means you need to get a chair with lumbar support, and good ergonomics. Humans weren’t meant to be sedentary after all!

Speaking of, it’d be a good idea to get a standing desk as well, as the height can be adjusted based on whether you feel like sitting down or standing up at the time. When you legs need to be stretched out, and you’ve already been at the computer for a couple of hours already, standing up will be the best thing for you at the time.

Turn to Your Employees

Your employees should be like a mini family to you, and communication between the whole lot of you is essential for a good work environment. And that doesn’t come easily, as a lot of employees don’t know how to talk to their boss and vice versa. So make sure you immediately work on this as soon as you hire one or two people on.

Communication and personalization in the workplace is the best thing for establishing an internal brand, and it’s something a lot of people forget about when all they’re focused on is the external world. This is where your money comes from after all, but you wouldn’t make nearly as much as you do now without the people who work for you. So feel free to customise a uniform to help people feel like they belong in your business, and then do their best work for you. You can click here to shop now for patches to stick onto an employee’s sleeve to help show off what you offer, or you can come up with a sales tactic that always includes the slogan of your business.

People need to be reminded who you are after all, in order to ensure they think of you when they leave the shop. Being exposed to something at least 7 times is what makes people think of you again and again, and this is a great way to give your shopping experience a stronger sense of branding.

Starting to Feel Like Home?

Hopefully this post has shown there’s a lot of good ways to make sure you feel just at home in your own office; a home away from home if you will.

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Pimp Your Ride – For Less

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Buying a new car is one of life’s great moment. The feel, look, and even the smell of a brand new set of wheels is a simple pleasure everyone loves, and almost the start of a new relationship and journey. However, the experience is not without issues. Once you get hold of those keys and drive your new car away, that uniqueness you felt on the test drive might not be markedly different after all.

The truth is that unless you can afford the huge expense of buying an incredible car, you can pretty much guarantee that thousands – maybe even millions – of other people are going to be driving the exact same model. And you might start to feel like you are driving something a little more run-of-the-mill than you first thought.

The good news is that there are plenty of ways of standing out. All it takes is a little customization to personalize your vehicle to your liking, and it won’t cost you a fortune to do it! In today’s guide, I’m going to go through a few of your options and reveal how to pimp your own ride for less.

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Getting started with the basics

First and foremost, let’s talk about personalization. Ultimately, there’s a right way of doing it, and plenty of ways of overdoing it. You want to attract the right kind of attention, of course, but it’s very easy to go too far and end up with a vehicle that is noticeable for all the wrong reasons. As an example, let’s discuss blacked out windows. Sure, your new car is going to look sleek – and also keep the sun’s glare out of your eyes. But in terms of getting noticed, your darkened windows will attract attention from all kinds of people – including law enforcement officers. It’s the same principle for exhausts – the only thing you will be doing is annoy people, and, most probably, attract the attention of the police again. To conclude, be careful! It’s OK to look cool in a car, but be aware that it is all too easy to overdo it.

Personalized license plate

Now, personalized plates are something of a ‘love/hate’ thing. And let’s be clear, they can be incredibly tacky in the wrong hands – not to mention expensive. In fact, something like the A1 or 1A plate could set you back up by millions of dollars. And of course, there are plenty of rude and inappropriate plates that you can buy – which aren’t recommended for public display! But you don’t have to spend a fortune. With a little ingenuity, it’s possible to find a personalized plate that doesn’t cost the earth but also reflects your name or an aspect of your personality. Check out the license plate specialists online and see what you can find.

Painting

Bored of your standard silver? Tired of the boring black paint job on your car? Well, why not take the DIY route, or pop to your local spray center and choose your own color? The reality is that if you want a funky color for your car, it can be expensive – and difficult – to find the perfect shade when buying new. But you don’t have to settle for what you have – you just need to find a professional bodywork shop to spray your ca to perfection. And as for the choice of color, it’s totally down for you. Bright pinks, gun-metal grays, matt blacks – the decision is yours, depending on whether you want to portray an element of fun, gravitas, or whatever you feel suits your personality type.

Sound systems

If you buy a standard car, the chances are that the stereo system that is fitted in the vehicle is pretty average. Car manufacturers just don’t worry about it, and although it might come complete with touchscreen and GPS, the sound quality is often poor. Why? Well, there’s an element of car drivers not being fussed about in-car sound quality, and manufacturers have to cut costs somewhere to make their vehicles affordable. However, if you love music and use it to express your personality, then you will need to upgrade. So, look for a great site for car stereo DIY info and product advice and consider getting that upgrade. Car stereos and speakers can be found for reasonable prices, and you can pump out your tunes of choice to your heart’s content.

Seats, wheels and tires

Your car will also come with standard seats, wheels and tires – unless you are willing to pay a premium. However, it’s possible to find some exceptional deals on all three of these car products when you buy from elsewhere. Whether you want to install alloys, buy some chunky tires with better grips, or upgrade your car seats with racing or heated seats, there is plenty of choices out there to reflect your personality.

Bumper replacement

Here’s one that not many people realize they can do – replace your bumper! Doing this particular task can make an instant impact on the look of your car, and you don’t have to spend a fortune to achieve a sporty or classic look. You can choose between rough-and-ready all-terrain style brackets or super glossy chrome-plated bumpers – ultimately, it’s your choice.

The little things

There’s plenty more you can do with your car, at very little cost. Bumper stickers can be a great way to show off your interests, from the football team you support to a local charity. Antenna toppers are cheaper than a pack of chips and come in a range of styles and colors you can use to complete the look of your car. And even air fresheners can add a nice fragrance to your car, so find a flavor that sings to your nasal senses.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways of upgrading your car that won’t cost the earth. It’s all down to a matter of choice. Ultimately, even if you buy the most popular, mainstream vehicle on the roads these days, there is nothing stopping you from turning it from an average set of wheels to a ‘pimp my ride’ classic.

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Effective Ways To Communicate With Your Customers

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If you want to run a successful and reputable business you need to make sure that the way you communicate is at the forefront of your mind at all times. Communication is one of the most basic human needs and will be instrumental in how you come across to your audience and whether or not you will build those lasting relationships you want. If you want to learn how to communicate to your customers more effectively this year, here are some ways to get your started.

Listen

The easiest way to communicate with your customers better is to make sure you listen to them and what they have to say. As a business owner the most important thing you want to know is what your audience wants and what they like. This is why we conduct market research in order to get to know our customers and know how to sell to them best. Make the effort when talking to your customers to not say too much and let them speak their mind. This could be incredibly important for you and allow you to make great improvements to your business.

Ditch the jargon

People hate it when you use fancy jargon to describe something which is relatively simple. If you are trying to explain how your product works or what your service is: make sure that you use concise sentences and say things plain and simple. There is no point getting technical with people if they won’t know what you mean.

Be professional

As a business professional it is important to remember that you are not simply conversing with your friends at the local pub. You need to always use correct English in your marketing and when you speak to your customers. Think about downloading an app such as Grammarly which will check your work for errors after writing. This will allow you to come across as professional and smart.

Positivity

The way you talk about yourself and your company can have a pretty massive effect on how they perceive you as a whole.  Are sure that when you are selling your product or service, you focus on what problem it can solve. People want to hear what your product can do for them and how it will make their lives much easier: make sure you always focus on this rather than dwelling on what it cannot do for them.

Forms of communication

There are a lot of different ways you can contact your customers these days, and it is crucial that you give them the option of how they would prefer to be contacted. For example, many people might be happy for you to send texts with TextBetter: however some may prefer you to simply email them. Many people are happy with you sending information through the post, and others may like to chat on the phone. Giving your customers the option will allow you to give off a better vibe and build a good reputation as you won’t be seen as pushy.

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Feed the World: How Can We Make More of Our Crops?

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With a growing population of humans, the strain on the land is certainly showing. This means that we need to find new ways to feed ourselves without ruining the environment. In other words, we need to figure out the optimal way to sustain our population long term.

Enter agronomy.

This is the science of figuring out how to produce more food, keep the soil healthy and even develop healthier foods. While you might think that this depends on GM crops, it is actually much more diverse and takes in all kinds of methods such as crop rotation, the best fertilizers and pest control too.

Specialists such as MKC have been working on various agronomy techniques for years and can offer all sorts of valuable advice. You can contact us for more information, but in the meantime, here are a few things you can do yourself to make the most of your land.

Selective Breeding

One of the best ways to produce excellent crops is to select your breeding plants very carefully. Gardeners and farmers have been doing this for hundreds of years and it is quite a simple process. All you need to do is pick your best plants and breed them together, then do the same over and again until you notice the characteristics you are looking for.

If you aren’t comfortable with GM crops, you can use selective pollination to breed the healthiest plants in order to encourage those traits. Over a few generations, you should see some significant differences and be able to produce bigger crops, more resistant crops or even novel, unique crops.

Mixed Cropping

Sometimes when looking for ways to innovate and improve current methods, the past is a good place to look. Planting single crops is a relatively recent idea, but before the industrialization of agriculture, farmers would plant multiple crops in the same field. With the right crops planted together, this can still create the perfect situation for crops to grow. This is called mixed cropping.

Even on a large farm, mixing crops like maize, beans and pumpkins is a great way to improve the way that your crops grow, keeping the soil in good condition and optimizing the yield you get. With the different species of crops, you will also attract different beneficial insects, creating a fabulous biodiversity.

Technological Advances

Though we tend to think of technology as a cause of environmental problems, it is also the best chance we have of understanding the environment and optimizing conditions to improve the situation. In fact, whether you use technology to track changes, control climates or monitor results, you can certainly find a way to put it to good use.

As more and more food is required, it is important that farmers look to every possible way of improving crops and looking after the soil they grow in. Choosing the right crops through selective breeding, planting complementary crops together to create a biodiverse growing area and using technology to track results can all work together to build the future of agricultural practice.

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