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How a Partnership Could Help Grow Your Business

Business development is a phrase that can often be difficult to define, particularly as companies tend to modify the scope of the role based on their individual, unique needs and requirements. Sometimes, business development means improving sales, but more often than not it refers to a lead generation role that exists to fill the pipeline for the sales team. Perhaps one of the best ways for this pipeline to be filled is through partnership development. Effective, strategic business partnerships create future leads, allowing the time invested in developing the partnership to pay off handsomely over time. So, how can you find, build, and nurture strategic partnerships to help your business grow? Here are some top tips to get started.

Both Sides Must Benefit:

Just like any kind of partnership, if only one party is set to be reaping the benefits of the union, then it’s not going to last a very long time. For a partnership to work well, both sides need to be positioned to win. Solid, successful partnerships have mutual benefits. So if you’re considering asking a business to partner with yours, consider the pitch that you have prepared for them. Yes, they’ll be interested in finding out what they can do to help your business develop and grow, but more often than not, will be more concerned about what’s in it for them. After all, why should they invest their time, money and energy into a business partnership, if there aren’t any clear benefits of doing so from the start?

Prioritize:

When it comes to choosing a business partner, it’s important to prioritize what your business needs from a partnership and make your choices accordingly. For example, a business that sells swimming pool supplies could form a strategic partnership with a company that cleans pools, or if you sell clothing, you could partner up with a modeling agency. Partner with a company that serves the same target market as yours and is working towards similar goals. It’s also a wise idea to choose a partner based on your business’ needs and requirements; you may be able to meet these faster and easier with a partner. For example, a new business partnering with a more established, experienced company has a higher chance of acceptance for investments and other types of business finance. And if you are a Hispanic company in NJ, find out why securing small business loans just got a lot easier for you.

Don’t Compete:

Another key tip to keep in mind when nurturing a business partnership is that your two companies are not in competition, even if you were once competitors. Unlike the fast-paced, ‘on the deal’ world of sales, developing your business through strategic partnerships focuses heavily on building strong, long-term relationships. These partnerships can take some time to grow and get moving, so it’s important to have patience, get to know your partner, and set expectations from the beginning. Not competing with your partner is an important expectation for both sides to have; if your business offerings do overlap, it’s best to have a plan in place for referring clients to one another, rather than taking business away from your partner.

Avoid Exclusivity:

When it comes to business partnerships, there’s no need to commit yourself to just one business partner exclusively. So, when working through the terms of your partnership agreement, it’s a good idea to protect your right to work with other business partners and keep your exit options open, so that you have the ability to easily walk away if the agreement does not quite work out. Bear in mind that some partners will see the benefits that you bring to their customer base and business, and push for an exclusive deal in a bid to make the value proposition better on their side – but whilst that is a win for them, it’s not always the best choice for you. Additionally, an agreement that allows either party to walk away if things aren’t working doesn’t just allow for an easy exit but can also be the ‘push’ that each partner needs to proactively work at making the partnership an effective one. If each party knows that the other could easily walk away from the table with reasonable notice, they will do their best to ensure the partnership is a win-win.

Sales Partnerships:

Perhaps you don’t need a full partnership for your business – but the good news is that there are still several ways in which you can partner with other companies in a way that both sides will benefit. Take a sales partnership, for example – this is where you allow another business to sell your items at a profit. For example, supermarkets that sell branded items are partnered with those brands. Service-based businesses can also benefit from sales partnerships – for example, if you are selling a software program, you may be able to allow developers or designers to ‘white label’ the program or use it on your behalf for a fee.

Service Exchanges:

Lastly, service exchange partnerships are a great way for business to get together and get what they need, whilst saving money. For example, imagine your business needs a new logo and web design, and you find a design company that’s in need of a product or service that your business provides. Your company could partner up with the design agency to provide them with the product that they need, in return for the website and logo that you need – as a result, everybody is happy, and both parties have saved money in the process. Then, the two businesses can still work together by providing referrals to customers or long-term exchange of services, if appropriate. This is a type of partnership that can be created between two businesses of almost any kind, although some will work better than others. For the most part, businesses that sell to other business will benefit the most from a service exchange-based partnership.

When it comes to growing and developing your business, a strategic partnership can help you get to where you need to be, from sales partnerships to working together in a true business partnership.

May 1, 2019

Careers,

Why You Should Consider HVAC as a Career

Are you looking to get into a career that is always in high demand? If so, HVAC could be the perfect choice of work for you. Every building has a climate control system; whether it’s a basic heating system or state of the art air conditioning. So, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is always going to be a career with opportunities, now even more so than ever. With baby boomers hitting retirement age and education placing intense focus on university career pathways, the skilled trades have been ignored and there’s a shortage of HVAC professionals. In addition to the high demand, here are some of the best reasons to consider pursuing a career in HVAC.

It’s All About Problem Solving:

With the average worker being in the workforce for 45-50 years, the last thing you want is a career where you’re doing the same thing every day and begin to feel like a robot on the job. Being faced with challenges and problems to overcome makes the workplace a more exciting and varied place to be, and solving problems is exactly what HVAC professionals need to do on a day to day basis. Professionals need to be able to look at and diagnose problems, figure out what needs to be done and make the repair. It requires mechanical skills, practical knowledge, and an aptitude for technology.

You’re Out of the Office:

If the idea of spending the rest of your working life cooped up in an office isn’t for you, then a new career in HVAC could be the perfect solution. Working in air conditioning and heater repair means that you’ll be changing the pace every single day, working on different jobs, with different people and often in various areas. You will get to travel around and work with businesses or homeowners, working with different equipment and solving a range of problems. You could be working in rooms, crawl spaces, outside, or in attics and basements – every day will bring something different and there’s always a new challenge to work with.

There’s Lots of Variety:

Service calls mean that you’re not confined to an office, and there are always several different types of work available for HVAC professionals both inside and outside of the city. Whether you’re installing new air conditioning units for a business, repairing heating systems at home, installing or repairing furnaces, variety is a key factor when it comes to the HVAC profession. And, many HVAC technicians also work with humidifiers, radiant heating, and air purification systems. The job is not one that ever feels monotonous or repetitive, and there’s always something new and different to learn if you want to expand your skills.

Plenty of Opportunities:

Alongside the high demand for HVAC professionals, the career is one that comes with plenty of opportunities for growth and development. There are always management opportunities available with HVAC companies that you may want to aim towards if you want to lead a team. Or, if you’d rather be your own boss, an HVAC career is the perfect opportunity for starting your own business providing a service that you know will be in high demand. It’s a safe business idea for anybody who wants to explore entrepreneurship, as you know that it is a trade that is always needed by a wide target audience, including both residential and commercial clients.

It’s a Well-Paying Career:

Today, it’s a myth that you have to go to university to get a career that pays you well. When it comes to the skilled trades, many of them pay even better than you could expect to earn after getting your bachelor’s degree, and the HVAC industry is no different. If you don’t want to study for a degree before entering the world of work but want a generous income for yourself and your family, an HVAC career is the perfect choice. And, as more and more of the younger and rising generations turn to university education, office jobs, and business positions, HVAC professionals will find the market for their services to be in even higher demand, with clients willing to pay more.

You’ll Always Have a Job:

Thanks to the high demand for HVAC services, professionals skilled in this area can look forward to strong job security. It is certainly not a career path where you will need to worry about a lack of work, regardless of whether you are employed by an HVAC company or have started your own business. It’s a profession that’s in high demand all year round, with the changing seasons bringing new jobs and challenges for HVAC professionals – air conditioning units need to be in top shape for the summer, whilst clients will need their heating systems and furnaces serviced and repaired in time for when the colder weather comes around in the winter.

Start As Soon as Possible:

If you’re considering a career in HVAC, then professionals advise you get started as soon as possible. The first and most popular path to becoming a fully qualified HVAC professional is to start off by becoming an apprentice. This will allow you to gain all the required qualifications for the profession, whilst being able to work alongside somebody who’s got years of experience and be able to learn the skills that you need first-hand. If you are willing to learn and have a mechanical aptitude, you may be able to find work as an apprentice with a heating and air conditioning contractor. Most apprentices will start off working as an installer under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, whilst supplementing their on-the-job learning and experience with online or evening classes. Apprenticeships typically last for around four years. On the other hand, those who wish to get qualified sooner can take a full-time training program, usually available at community colleges, which are typically completed in around eighteen months. Online and distance learning programs are also becoming more popular.

If you would like an exciting, hands-on career where no two days are the same, HVAC is a great trade to get into.

April 30, 2019

News,

How to Be A Better & More Responsible Landlord

It pays to be a great landlord and to have a good reputation for the work you do. People will want to work with and rent from you when they know you’re skilled at your job and are pleasant to work with.

There are simple tips that are going to help you be a better and more responsible landlord. It’ll take an extra effort on your part, but the rewards will be well worth your hard work in the end. Your job will become more manageable, and you’ll find more reliable tenants when you put forth additional time and energy to make sure you’re paying attention to some of the most important details.

Vet Your Tenants

You can be a better and more responsible landlord by making sure you vet your tenants before you offer them a lease. Perform a background check and call up their references to confirm they’ve always paid their rent on time and are dependable people. Remember that you have the right to turn them down if it’s not a good fit or you feel uncomfortable signing a lease with them. Once you do select the right tenants for the property, offer to get them adjusted to the area and write them a welcome letter to ensure the relationship gets off to a good start.

Know Your Property’s Value & Worth

Another way you can be a better and more responsible landlord is to know and understand your property’s worth and value. It’s a good idea to sit down and review this post by Vanguard Realty Advisors if you own a commercial property and want to learn more about the importance of the appraisal process. There are many benefits of following through with an appraisal including:

Company account purposes
Secured loans
End of lease repairs
Capital gains tax

Keep in mind that you’ll want to hire a company who knows what they’re doing and can offer you high-quality work at a reasonable price.

Understand the Laws & Real Estate Business

As a landlord, there are rules and laws you should know about and follow. It can be costly and tarnish your reputation if you’re always trying to cut corners or are continuously making mistakes and breaking the law. It’s also a wise idea to educate yourself about the real estate business in general and how it works. Always refer back to the written and signed lease whenever you have questions or issues arise, instead of trying to take matters into your own hands. Most importantly, take into account that they’re your tenants and not your friends so be sure to set boundaries early on.

Make Repairs Quickly

Be a better and more responsible landlord by making repairs in a timely manner. Your tenants shouldn’t have to wait days or weeks for you to address important matters that require your immediate attention. Remember that being a landlord can take up a lot of your time and money so not being available or having the funds to make repairs isn’t a good excuse and will make you look bad. If you’re out of town, then it’s in your best interest to have someone in place who can be contacted should there be an emergency situation that you have to attend to.

Check in Regularly

You should also get into the habit of checking in regularly to your properties as a landlord. This way, you can avoid any surprises, and the tenants know that you’re always watching and keeping an eye on them. You’ll be protecting yourself by taking preventative action, and your tenants will be made well aware that you won’t stand for any reckless or careless behavior.

Look & Act Professional

Although your job may seem casual at times, remember that you’re still in business and have clients to converse with regularly. Try your best to look and act as professional as possible if you want to be taken seriously by others. People will judge you by the way you dress and your appearance so always have clean clothes on and remember to groom yourself properly. Furthermore, if you own a commercial property, then you’ll be walking into places of business and will want to look presentable.

Practice Emotional Intelligence

It’s also important that you do your best to keep your cool in all situations even when they get heated. Practice emotional intelligence at all times by thinking before you act. While it can be stressful not to get your money on time or have a disagreement with your tenants, remember that you want to try your best to maintain a good working relationship with them. The last circumstance you want is to have to face them in court and pay for legal fees. Avoid these types of situations by attempting to problem solve and keep your cool instead of flying off the handle and becoming emotional and getting worked up.

Be Responsive

If there’s one action you take as a landlord it should be that you’re always responsive. You can be a better and more responsible landlord by picking up your phone when your tenants call and being accessible around the clock. Offer up multiple phone numbers if you have them and an email address, so you’re easy to get a hold of no matter the time of day. Think about the fact that you’ll want to be notified right away anyways if there’s potential for damages to be occurring in your building, so encourage tenants to always call you immediately with problems.

Conclusion

Being a better and more responsible landlord isn’t necessarily difficult, but if you want to be successful, it will take dedication and commitment on your end. Use these tips as guidelines to help make sure you’re doing your job to the best of your ability and are taking care of the most important details first and foremost. Your role will be much more satisfying and easier to handle when you’re paying attention to these aspects and taking the time to select reliable and trustworthy tenants.

April 27, 2019

News,

What Are the Requirements for Bulldozer Credentials?

If you’re looking to increase your marketable skills—as well as your income—by furthering your education, you may have looked into bulldozer certification. Being able to operate a bulldozer, as well as other types of heavy equipment, is a skill that is much in demand in today’s construction market. And these days, it’s not enough to simply have the skill. You’ll often need to be able to provide proof that you know what you’re doing and that you’re proficient with the equipment.

According to payscale.com, the median wage for a bulldozer operator is about $18.36 per hour, with workers on the higher end making about $29.42. For many people, this makes a bulldozer certification very much worth pursuing. But what are the requirements? How do you get a bulldozer certification? Read on to find out.

What Does a Bulldozer Operator Do?

Before we discuss the requirements, we should define exactly what the job “bulldozer operator” entails. When you have bulldozer credentials, you’ll do more than simply use a bulldozer to clear out massive amounts of land; you’ll be required to maintain and repair the vehicles as well. You will have to be able to troubleshoot, as well as work to solve a wide array of unexpected problems in the field. You will also need to have a working knowledge of electronics and computers to work with the sophisticated technology present on modern bulldozers.

What Type of Education Do I Need?

Many employers will require you to have a high school diploma to work on their construction sites. This is not, however, a prerequisite for receiving bulldozer credentials. You will be required to attend a school specializing in heavy equipment training. Often, the focus won’t simply be on bulldozers, but on many different kinds of equipment, which will leave you more versatile when it comes to your job hunt. If you’re on the West Coast, your best option is the course at West Coast Training. Through their eight-week course, you can receive bulldozer training, as well as related training in loaders, excavators, scrapers, backhoes, and others.

What Will I Learn in These Courses?

At West Coast Training’s Heavy Equipment Operator training, you’ll go through an intensive program with 10 hours of training per day, for a total of 50 hours per week. That adds up to 400 hours of instruction throughout the length of the course. Five hours of the day Monday through Thursday will be spent in the classroom. There, you’ll learn workplace safety, basic surveying, civil engineering concepts, applied mathematics, as well as how to use equipment such as laser levels, hand-sight levels, transits, chain and rod, and plumb bobs. The remaining five hours of your day will be spent in the field. Fridays are spent entirely in the field. That means for approximately thirty hours each week, you’ll be practicing using the equipment you’re going to be certified for. Your bulldozer certification will be much more than a simple piece of paper stating you passed some tests; it will come with real-world experience that will leave you highly confident in your ability to operate the heavy machinery your job requires.

What Certification Do I Receive at the End?

At the end of West Coast Training’s course, you’ll receive a credential from the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER). For the dozer certification, you’ll be required to pass a two-hour closed-book examination; the minimum passing score is 70. You’ll also have to pass West Coast Training’s fieldwork requirements. Having done so, your results will be sent to NCCER, and you’ll receive your certification. You will not simply be certified to use bulldozers, but a variety of other heavy equipment as well. In addition, if you are looking to continue your education even further, you can join a crane operator program to ensure you are as highly trained as it is possible to be in this field.

Will This Help Me Get Hired?

You may have noticed that not every construction company requires a bulldozer certification from its heavy equipment operators. While it’s true that many people have earned their experience working directly in the field, the reality is that this takes years. If you’re looking to break into the market quickly, it’s highly recommended you get certified for any type of heavy equipment you’re looking to use. After all, your potential hiring managers are not simply looking to see if you’ve practiced behind the controls of a bulldozer; they need to know if you can operate the equipment safely and that you have experience with the repair, cleaning, and maintenance of all their expensive equipment. Even if you already have some years of experience working with bulldozers and other heavy equipment, having a bulldozer certification from NCCER will go a long way toward showing your potential employers you are a true professional in your field.

What Other Benefits Come from a Heavy Equipment Course?

If you’ve put in the time, money, and effort needed to earn a bulldozer certification, and you’ve spent eight weeks and hundreds of hours hard at work, you’ll have more than just a piece of paper. At West Coast Training, you’ll walk away from the course highly trained in the use of various heavy equipment, but odds are, you’ll want even more to show for it than that.

Well, no amount of study and practice are going to matter much if you are unable to find a job afterward. That’s why West Coast Training also offers employment services. Once you’ve received your training and the requisite certificate, the school will also put you on track to finding work. That means assistance putting a resume together and help guiding you through finding a job you’re hoping to work at.

You’ll go far beyond simply getting behind the controls of a bulldozer a few times; you’ll become an experienced professional with a wide new field of employment opened up to you.

April 25, 2019

News,

How to Improve the Efficiency of Your Workshop

Efficiency in business is everything. It is how you perform well as a company, how you maximize cost savings, and of course who you maintain a strong foundation. An efficient company is also far safer, especially in the manufacturing industries. Whether you own a small family workshop, or operate a huge industrial floor in a manufacturing company does not matter. They both need to be clean, organized, and thought through so that workflow is efficient and employees are supported every step of the way.

Productivity is one of the key factors to success. It is even more important that hard work, because working hard does not mean the job is being done well. In a workshop or manufacturing warehouse working hard can lead to over-exertion, which in turn could mean your employees make mistakes that are costly to your business or to their own health and safety.

To make your workshop safer and more efficient for all, follow this guide:

Audit Your Workshop of Manufacturing Floor

The first step to organizing your manufacturing business is to audit it. This step is critical, because it will help you devise a strategy from the start that tackles the biggest problems you face on your manufacturing floor.

Ask Employees

The first place to ask is always your employees. They are on the floor every day and will know exactly where their workplace is lacking. Do remember that sometimes to improve the efficiency of an employee you have to invest in their wellbeing. This could mean improving their break room, scheduling more breaks, paying for benefits like a gym membership, and so on. The healthier and happier they are, the better work they will do for you. Employees who are happy are also far less likely to leave. If they don’t leave, you won’t have to spend thousands on training new employees as a result of high employee turnover.

Note Cleanliness

Take note of the cleanliness of the space. It should be dust-free, rust-free, and generally clean. If not, the products you make could suffer, as could the health of your employees.

Note Organization

How organized is everything? Do your employees find it easy to find tools? If you told them to get something for you, how long does it take them to do it? If there is disorganization or clutter you will need to clear it out and restructure.

Inspect Tools and Machines

Either hire a professional or, if you are a qualified, inspect all your tools and machines. Making small repairs if much more cost effective than dealing with a break or a replacement. You will also benefit from making the machines in question run more smoothly.

The “Five S” Process

Initially a Japanese concept, the Five S process has since been adopted in the manufacturing business over here in the west.

Sort

Sort through what you have and get rid of what you don’t need. You can make money during this process if the items you are getting rid of are recyclable or of interest to another company. This way you bring in a bit of extra cash and help keep materials out of the landfills.

Set in Order

Once you have sorted through your workshop it is time to put everything that is staying back. Give everything a home, and label these locations if you need to.

Shine

Deep clean the space. Repaint it. Repair it. It should look clean and organized at all times.

Standardize

Create workflows to standardize steps and make your whole company safer and more efficient. Make a few employees responsible for ensuring these standards are met again and again, but be willing to listen to suggestions on how to improve this new workflow.

Sustain

Maintain discipline so that all the hard work you put into the previous steps is maintained day after day. If you go through all the effort to clean, organize, and standardize your workplace then it would be huge shame for it to gather dust and become messy in just a few short months.

Improve the Efficiency of Your Workshop

There are many innovative ways to rethink the manufacturing line. Though these strategies will need to be developed within your company, there are a few similarities that are sure to benefit manufacturing businesses of all types:

Invest in Better Tools and Machines

Budget choices might cost less up front, but they will end up costing you more over time. Perhaps you need to keep replacing them, or perhaps they take longer to use. Either way, to improve the efficiency of your manufacturing business you will want to invest in better tools and machines. For grinding wheels, for example, you can benefit massively from investing in Nano-diamond super-abrasives. This will make the grinding wheel exceptionally strong, durable, and long-lasting. Your employees will be able to get their work done faster and to a better standard than ever before.

Provide a Straightforward Organization System

Work with your employees so that your tools and materials are organized sensibly. You should also consider investing in better organizational tools. A shadow board for example can be a great tool to help tools stay organized with ease, whereas labels on the shelves and drawers can make it easy even for newcomers to maintain order within your workshop.

Work with Employees to Create Better Workflows

Every business can improve, even automated businesses that rely on machinery. Don’t assume that you have all the answers, either. The people who have the most relevant opinions and ideas to improve their working environment are your employees themselves. Who else is more qualified?

Not only will asking and working together to make your work floor more productive help the overall efficiency of your business, it will also boost employee loyalty. Employees like to know that their questions, concerns, and ideas are taken seriously and listened to. By not only listening but implementing changes based on their ideas, you can improve their quality of life and quality of work. If done properly, you should also improve the life of your tools and equipment.

April 24, 2019

Real Estate,

How you can make money from real estate

Real estate can be a real money spinner – if you know how to get into it. Most Americans dream of owning their own home and as a result, they outnumber those who rent by nearly two to one. People are always going to need somewhere to live, and that means that real estate can be a relatively safe business to get involved in.

You might be wondering how you can do so. There are plenty of different ways to get into the world of property no matter how big or small your budget, so to get you started, we’ve put together this list of four ways in which you could make money from real estate.

Invest in short term rentals

With nearly 5 million lodgings in 81,000 cities across the world and an estimated value of $38 billion, Airbnb is a massive business. That means that short term rentals are one of the easiest ways in which anybody can make money from real estate. From something as simple as renting out your home to holidaymakers when you are away in exchange for cash to buying up properties for the sole intention of listing them as permanently as local restrictions allow on Airbnb, anybody can make money out of short term rentals.

Fix and flip houses

There is a lot of money to be made from fixing and flipping houses. The basic premise is that you find a dilapidated property which, as a result, is being sold off for much below its true value. You then spend time and money fixing up the property, before selling it on for a much bigger price than that which you paid for it. True, fixing and flipping can be costly and time-consuming, but if you can find the right piece of real estate and get the renovation right, then it can be hugely rewarding.

Become a realtor

One of the most significant problems that people perceive when it comes to becoming an actual realtor is the time it can take to receive payment. When money comes in the form of commissions, you can sometimes find yourself waiting months to be paid for the sales job you’ve done. As a result, many people are put off becoming a realtor. That doesn’t have to be an issue anymore, with companies such as My Commission, LLC offering cash advances up to $25,000 on commission due up to 90 days ahead of the estimated closing date.

Invest in Real Estate Investment Trusts

A Real Estate Investment Trust is a firm that owns, manages or represents large real estate portfolios. By making a simple investment in such a trust, you’ll be putting your money into real estate but with much less risk than with other possible investment schemes and without needing to do too much hard work yourself as the trust will manage everything on your behalf. Different REIT’s specialize in different properties, so you can find one to invest in which works in the home or commercial properties or even in infrastructures such as fiber cables, cell towers, and energy pipelines.

April 24, 2019

Finance,

Arnon Dror – Improve Your Business’s Cashflow with 3 Popular Inventory Management Techniques

Arnon Dror is a prominent financial executive with years of valuable experience in the world of international finance. This MBA graduate has the distinction of being the Vice President of a number of companies. Xerox, Creo Inc., Scitex, Kodak, Creo Americas and Presstek are names of some of these organizations. The people managing these establishments credit him for converting their concerns into profit-earning entities. They even say he has an impressive track record in the area of corporate turnaround strategies. Many of them also acknowledge this knowledge and expertise in many diverse areas. These include internal control, cash flow management, ERP integration, business negotiations, international taxation, and corporate mergers.

Arnon Dror – 3 key inventory management techniques entrepreneurs should be aware of

This financial executive says effective inventory management is always a contentious issue for many entrepreneurs. These businessmen need to keep adequate quantities in their warehouse at all times. Only then can they cater to the demands of their customers in the marketplace. Taking this step helps to boost their sales revenues.

On the other hand, overstocking has an adverse effect on their commercial operations. It can increase their operating costs to unacceptable levels. It leads to a significant decline in their bottom-line profits and creates immense pressure on their cash flow. This is obviously the last thing they want. This professional suggests these entrepreneurs should consider adopting the following 3 important techniques:

First-in First Out (FIFO)

Implementing this technique is the necessity for all entrepreneurs regardless of whether deal perishable commodities. Under this procedure, the proprietors should sell off products which they acquire at an earlier date. Only then should they consider disposing of their latest items. Adopting this step helps them to minimize the risk of dealing with dead stock. At the same time, it also reduces the chances of spoilage. This is face which they can’t afford to overlook at any costs.

Conducting an ABC analysis

Entrepreneurs are aware that not all products in their inventory are the same. There are some items which require more of their attention than the rest. However, these goods generally have low demand in the market. This makes them harder for these businessmen to sell to their clients. Carrying out an extensive ABC analysis helps the proprietors to identify such commodities. They can then take the necessary steps to phase them out of their warehouse slowly. Taking this step helps them to reduce their operating costs significantly.

Carrying out regular audits

Businessmen can need to carry out periodic stock audits within their premises. This task is necessary for one important reason. The exact quantities and description of the products in their warehouse should tally with stock records. If this is not the case, then they need to identify the causes for the discrepancy. It can result from unavoidable wastage or spoilage. Only in the worst-case scenario can these owners suspect pilferage or fraud.

Arnon Dror clarifies that proper inventory management is a necessity for entrepreneurs rather than a luxury. It can improve their organization’s cash flow position beyond their expectations. Implementing the above 3 important techniques can help them achieve their objective. This is what they want at the end of the day.

April 24, 2019

Business,

How to Create an Eye-Catching Packaging Design

Packaging doesn’t only exist to protect the product. It is one of the most important aspects of marketing. Eye-catching designs on the packaging help it stand out on the shelf and improves the odds it will sell. Good packaging will identify the product, reassure them as to its quality, and create an emotional connection with the customer. However, this is only possible when you have a good, eye-catching packaging design. Let’s take a look at what will make your packaging pop and catch the attention of your customers.

Identify How the Product Will Be Sold

The ideal packaging for the product will differ based on the sales channel. For example, items sold online can’t be touched and held, so your packaging should rely primarily on visual appeal. The packaging on the shelf could appeal to other senses, though the visual appeal remains predominant. After all, the product has to stand out from the competition well enough for other people to pick it up and feel the material or hear the sound effects from the toy.

Be Deliberate in Your Design Process

Don’t make the packaging design an afterthought. Start designing your packaging early in the product design process. Go through a variety of product packaging designs so that the product packaging is an extension of your brand, not just something to hold the product and have a label applied to it. Go through several mock-ups of the product and perform market research so that you know that your customers will approve of it before you mass produce it.

Study what your competitors are doing, find out how they’re failing, and then learn from it. If you can make your packaging easier to open or use less material, this can be a selling point. And learn what lingo they’re using that works so you can include it on your packaging, as well.

Stay ahead of the curve and plan changes in advance instead of sticking with what works until it doesn’t. Also, consider working with a reliable source like Smash Brand. Their world-class packaging designers know how to design consumer product packaging that connects with consumers while meeting practical needs such as protecting the product. They’re known for redesigning product packaging to revive flagging sales. They can provide advice based on what works for the most successful brands and apply that expertise to your new packaging design.

Involve More than Your Marketing Department

While marketing is a key contributor to your new packaging design, work with production and manufacturing as well. You don’t want to come up with a packaging design that is difficult to manufacture, fill or distribute.

When you consider changing your packaging, engage manufacturing at the very start to ensure that the design you want to implement aligns with what works best. For example, wax seals may give a sense of luxury but embossing or letterpress seals have the same look for a much lower cost.

Consider listening to customers and distributors on how the current packaging fails to protect your product or is difficult to stack on shelves. Verify that the product’s packaging protects it and looks good as long as the item is on the shelf. After all, slow moving consumer goods may sit on the shelf or in a warehouse for years.

Also, look past the shelf to how the product is used in the customer’s home or place of business. If the product isn’t single use, make certain the packaging isn’t totally destroyed when someone opens it. Make sure the product isn’t hard to open by the target consumer and easy to store for future use if it will sit on their shelf for a while.

Remember that Less Is More

Environmental concerns are of increasing importance to consumers. Look for ways to make your packaging more environmentally friendly, whether it is using recycled content, making certain your packaging can be easily recycled, and using less material in the packaging overall.

If the packaging is both eye-catching and eco-friendly, this will increase sales. And you may be required by law to meet various standards. Meeting those may not be a selling point but exceeding them can be. Just don’t go with packaging with such a low perceived value that it undermines the consumer’s confidence in your product.

Keep It Simple

Design product packaging that uses as little material as possible. Try to make the packaging serve every purpose possible from protecting and preserving the product to advertising the contents to aiding in its distribution.

At a minimum, design product packaging that doesn’t get in the way of packing as many as possible in a box for shipment to the retailer and doesn’t require multiple layers of packaging to arrive safely. Be careful of the temptation to go with custom packaging since this is expensive and may be overkill. The more economical choice is finding ways to advertise on the packaging without spending much. For example, include applicable warnings along with the marketing content on the package instead of applying a separate warning sticker.

Another mistake is over-selling with the packaging. If you try to oversell the product through the packaging, you’re actually at risk of dissuading people from buying it. This is where market research with the packaging can save you from disaster. At the same time, take market positioning and branding into account. Make your product eye-catching without being too flashy. Stand out on the shelf but remain associated with your brand’s color scheme. After all, you want to maintain customer loyalty and ensure that loyal customers can find your product in the store.

Pay Attention to Typography

The typography on the packaging matters. For example, text that can’t be read because it blends into the color scheme of the box is meaningless. Don’t make text too small to be read from the customer’s perspective, either. The most important text should be the largest and the most obvious writing on the packaging. And remember that too much text on the box is a distraction, so only put what is important on the packaging. You can print other warnings, notices, and instructions on a packaging insert.

Conclusion

Your product’s packaging is often your company’s first impression with a potential consumer. And bad experiences with your packaging will always cost you future sales. Create the perfect package for your product so that you’ll keep it flying off the shelves.

April 22, 2019

Finance,

6 Ways That Any Business Can Save Money

Staying on top of finances is one of the biggest challenges for new and established entrepreneurs alike. Efficiency should always be a priority for any business, and ensuring that businesses are able to accomplish their work as quickly and effectively as possible is a key part of this. If you are always mindful of efficiency, you will find that saving money and reducing costs becomes second nature.

No matter the size of your business, it is worth taking the time to assess your current financial situation and find ways to improve it. You never know how much money your business could be saving and you don’t want to wait until your finances are on the brink before you take action.

Here are some of the simplest ways that any business can begin to reduce their costs and turn their finances around.

Enable Remote Working

Technology has completely transformed the modern workplace. The ability to work from home might sound awful to some people, but when it is implemented properly, it should lead to a reduction in overheads and increases in efficiency. The easier your workers find it to access your corporate network and complete their work from home, the more likely they are to do so.

Remote working benefits your business by allowing your employees to accomplish more, but it can also raise your efficiency in a number of indirect ways. For example, employees who have the option of remote working from home some of the time are likely to be less stressed overall and have a more positive outlook on their work.

Outsourcing

You can outsource certain roles in your business in order to reduce your overall costs. This can take the form of a business that is able to access your network remotely and assist you that way, or a business that provides staff members who come to your workplace in person. In either case, the goal of outsourcing is to gain access to people, skills and infrastructure that would otherwise be unavailable to a business.

Outsourcing saves you money on the cost of acquiring new employees and talent, as well as maintaining those workers and ensuring that their training remains up to date. Instead, the business that you outsource to will absorb these costs. Many businesses initially outsource work that they then decide to bring in house when they are in a position to make the necessary financial investment.

Rethink Your Suppliers

A simple way of making sure that you are operating as fiscally efficiently as possible is to carry out an audit of your current supply chain. Carefully consider where all of your office supplies, equipment and other resources come from. Read over the contracts that you have with the various suppliers who supply your business, and don’t be afraid to shop around for a better deal. You might even want to pull the old trick of telling them that you’re considering switching and see how they respond.

Don’t just think of the suppliers who provide you with physical goods, you should also think about how balanced your contracts with service providers are. If you need to ship goods out to customers, for example, make sure that you are getting the best price possible on your shipping. You might be able to save money by switching to a service like Unishippers. Unishippers work with a number of freight companies to provide small businesses with the right freight services for their needs.

Streamline Everything

Streamlining means enhancing your efficiency. The more efficiently each individual component of your business is in its operation, the more efficient your overall performance will be. Start by streamlining your workflows and procedures, and make sure that you are taking the most direct route possible in accomplishing day to day tasks. You might find it helpful to appoint a specific member of staff to oversee efficiency in your business.

As well as streamlining the workflow used by your workers, you should also look to lead by example and see how you can streamline your own daily routine. If your employees see that you are taking efficiency seriously, they will feel more compelled to make an effort themselves. No matter what you need to do to improve your own performance, be prepared to do it in the wider interests of your business. You might have to cut back on your personal time and spend more time supervising operations if you want to streamline as much as possible.

In some businesses, serious streamlining will involve a radical shakeup of the entire business. However, as long as you don’t rush to implement changes faster than your business can cope with them, your business should be able to manage. Even if you are going to be making serious changes to fundamental policies and procedures in your business, as long as you do it in the right way, it should be minimally disruptive.

Upgrade Your Infrastructure

Infrastructure will mean different things to different businesses; for some businesses their infrastructure will be computer-based, including servers and corporate networks; for other businesses, infrastructure will include machinery, vehicles and other hardware. These are the things that your business needs in order to be able to carry out its functions.

An investment in the right equipment can completely transform a business’s capabilities and its fortunes.

Embrace Smart Marketing

Marketing is often one of a business’s most significant costs, but it is also one of the most necessary expenditures. Smart marketing is all about taking a data-driven approach to your marketing that allows you to finely craft and target your marketing campaigns for your target audience. This allows you to accomplish more for less.

Once you start looking for ways to save your business money, you will realize just how many opportunities there are to do so. Saving your business a little money in the short term could prove significant in the long term. Looking for ways to save money also often leads businesses to naturally adopt more efficient operating procedures, which further enhances savings. The above tips are a great place to start your new money saving habits.

April 18, 2019

Business,

4 Ways to Differentiate Your Business

Running a business can be extremely rewarding. It can also be frustrating. There will be times when everything runs smoothly, and times when everything seems to go wrong. The one thing that can be accurately relied on in business is that things change, and that you need to keep up with what is going on within the market to ensure that you don’t get left behind.

This is even truer when it comes to your competition. You may think there is none for your particular niche, but something important to remember is that there will always be competition, no matter what you do. Even if your business is totally unique, there will be another business that is just similar enough to cause potential issues when it comes to getting ahead of the competition. And even if you really can’t find any true competition, that doesn’t mean you can become complacent; instead you will need to keep a constant watch in case – or rather, when – another similar business arrives on the scene.

When this happens, or if you do already know that you have competition, you will need to work on differentiating yourself to ensure that you continue to grow and thrive and ideally manage to at least get on a level footing with your competition, if not get ahead of them entirely. Here are some ways it can be done:

Use Yourself

Sometimes there will be a distinct personality behind a business. If you are the owner, and you are the person that customers deal with and see the most – the person who is, in effect, the company itself – then this is what you need to work on. This is what will make you entirely different from everyone else. After all, there can’t be two of you, and that is something you can use in your marketing and in your attempts to show that you are unique.

Take an objective view of yourself and your role in the business. Could it be bigger? Smaller? How could you change it so that your personality shines through? It might be that there is an interesting story about how you set up the business and what made you decide to do it, for example. Perhaps it is your wide knowledge of the sector and your products and services. Maybe it is the passion that you bring to the business that makes you stand out. You will bring a specific value to the business, and it is this that you need to discover if you want to work on it.

Eventually, there will come a time when you may wish to step back from the day to day running of the business, and this can sometimes be an issue when it was your personality and skills that made people come to you in the first place. In this case, you will need to ensure that your employees are able to emulate your systems and processes as much as possible and, of course, you can be on hand as a consultant if need be so that customers still feel that they are getting the personal service they have come to expect.

Be Transparent

If your business is completely transparent in the way that it works, and everyone prides themselves on their honesty at all times, it will not only make you stand out, but it will be a wonderful selling point for you. Customers will find it refreshing to be able to understand the process behind every decision, and to be involved where possible.

It is also a good idea to let customers in on the ‘behind the scenes’ of areas that they wouldn’t normally have access to. You can use https://www.plant-tours.com/ to create an audio tour of your processing area, or make a film to put on your website that shows customers how you do what you do. This kind of unprecedented access can really make a difference, engaging customers in a new way and promoting your business to a much wider audience.

Solve Problems

Many businesses look for products or services that they can sell and make a profit on without thinking any further than this step. While that is something that can certainly work and make money, what works even better – and what makes a business grow faster – is to come up with something that will solve a problem for your customers, even if it is something they didn’t realize was an issue in the first place. If you start your business in this way, you will engage with more customers and make more sales. Begin by thinking of the problems you have to face in your day to day life; if you find things problematic, the chances are that other people will too.

It’s not just your products and services that need to solve problems; you will too. Is there anything that you are doing within your business that might be off-putting? You will need to ask for plenty of feedback as well as looking objectively at what you are doing. This can be difficult, but if you feel that there is something holding people back from buying from you, this is another problem that needs to be solved.

Innovative Marketing

If you can use your marketing, which needs to be done anyway if you want your business to be noticed, to really differentiate yourself then you will be able to make more of your marketing budget. You can stand out completely by innovative marketing, even if your products and services are the same as someone else’s (or many other people’s). This is because a clever marketing campaign is something that people will remember, so it is your company that they will go to first because your name will be foremost in their minds.

If you’re not sure how to go about marketing in a clever, innovative way, it’s best to contact a professional to help you. You don’t want to launch a campaign that doesn’t work as this will be a waste of money, or even put people off using you altogether if the tone isn’t right.

April 17, 2019