What Meaningful Things Can Businesses Do To Safeguard Their Employees’ Health?

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Health/Wellness. A major consideration for any business with a staff is the health and wellness of its staff. Healthy employees will continue to help your operations thrive, with unhealthy employees will do the opposite. The following contributed post is entitled, What Meaningful Things Can Businesses Do To Safeguard Their Employees’ Health?

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Your vision, strategy, experience and insight may be the framework for what makes your business. But it’s the everyday interactions, efforts and endeavors of your employees that add flesh to its bones and help your business to live up to the brand’s promise. Every time an employee renders outstanding customer service, every time they go the extra mile and every time they grow in operational proficiency they’re helping to embody your brand.

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They are the driving force behind your success and worthy of your respect… and with that in mind, the very least you can do for them is to make sure that they’re healthy, happy and comfortable at work. With that in mind, here are some meaningful ways in which SMBs just like yours can help to safeguard the health and wellbeing of your employees.

It starts with the right insurance

No matter what you do to keep your employees healthy at work, it’s highly likely that somebody in your team will get sick to the point of needing medical attention. That means finding the right Group Health insurance Quote is of paramount importance. You need to have a policy in place that gives them the cover they need to give them peace of mind at a price that’s equitable and affordable. Put in enough research to be able to walk this line and you’ll be able to give your employees the peace of mind that comes with good healthcare when they need it.

Make healthy eating easy

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, however, and when it comes to protecting our bodies, absolutely nothing is as important as a healthy diet. Even exercise pales in comparison to what we use to fuel our bodies. But employees often struggle to eat healthily because they lack the time to prepare healthy meals at home. By providing a wealth of healthy options in your lunchroom and vending machines you can take the effort out of healthy eating.

Encourage cycling to work

Cardiovascular exercise doesn’t just help keep the body healthy, it also helps to sharpen the mind so that employees arrive at their desks energized and refreshed with good mental acuity. And because cycling is one of the best forms of cardiovascular exercise out there, encouraging your employees to cycle to work can go a long way towards safeguarding their health.

Just make sure you also have shower facilities.

Reach out to local gyms

Of course, not all employees will be able or willing to cycle to work, so it’s a good idea to give them affordable access to other forms of exercise, too. Try reaching out to local gyms to see if you can get special rates by referring your employees. It may give them just the push they need to get more active.

Give them a culture of social acceptance and peer recognition

Finally, we mustn’t overlook the importance of mental health in employee wellbeing. Employees are happier at work when they feel that they are in a safe, supportive and socially accepting environment that values peer recognition and celebrates achievement and endeavor in ways other than simply paying bonuses for hitting targets.

When your workplace culture is conducive to social cohesion, you know that you’re onto a winner.

4 Ways For Recovering Addicts To Avoid A Relapse

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a of focus is Health/Wellness. If you’ve become addicted to a drug of abuse, a challenging facing you is recovery and then avoiding relapse. Some former users can avoid relapse, while for others it’s an ongoing battle. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Ways For Recovering Addicts To Avoid A Relapse.

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Overcoming an addiction is an incredibly difficult thing to do, but even once you have beaten it, your journey doesn’t end there. There is no simple cure to addiction and it’s something that you will live with for the rest of your life. That means that there is always the risk of relapse, so you need to be very careful. However, there are ways that you can reduce the chances of a relapse and continue on your recovery journey. Whether you are recovering from addiction yourself or you have helped a loved one through it, these methods for avoiding relapse can be very useful to you.

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Continued Treatment

The most effective way to avoid relapse is to continue with treatment in some form. A lot of people find that they leave a rehabilitation facility feeling as though they will never return to their addiction, but that doesn’t last forever and they may end up relapsing. But if you continue with outpatient treatment for addiction, it makes things a lot easier. You will be reminded of the tools that you used to beat the addiction in the first place and you can also learn new methods to help you rebuild your life and resist the temptations of your addiction. Having a support network there is incredibly important if you want to avoid relapse.

Avoid Dangerous Situations

One of the biggest issues that recovering addicts have is that a lot of their social circles are built around their addiction. But if you continue to put yourself in dangerous situations with other addicts, it makes it incredibly difficult to avoid temptation. It can be difficult to leave old friends behind but you need to put yourself first and consider your own health. Try to find new hobbies or groups to join so you can build a social circle outside of your addiction.

Create A Healthy Schedule

Having a healthy schedule in place will give structure to your life and help you to move forward and achieve your goals. This schedule will include things like treatment times, spending time with family, working, and exercising. As you build a healthy schedule and start to do more positive things in your life, it helps to remind you why you wanted to get away from your addiction in the first place.

Don’t Get Complacent

Complacency is the biggest danger for people that are in recovery. It’s important to remember that your addiction will always be there and you can never take your recovery for granted. Even if it has been years, there is always the chance that you will relapse. But when people get complacent and think that they’re going to be fine, that’s when they start to let things slip. They stop keeping up with their schedule or they visit old friends that may put them in dangerous situations. This is when a relapse is most likely to happen, so make sure that you never get complacent.

You can never take your recovery for granted and there is always the risk of relapse, but if you follow these tips, you can reduce the chance of that happening.

Hobbies to Try in the New Year

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and three key focuses are Athletics and Sports, General Education, Health and Wellness. Hobbies are critical to everyone’s health wellness both physically and mentally. They keep both our bodies and minds, youthful, stimulated and engaged. If you don’t currently have any hobbies, you should consider some for the new year. The following contributed post is entitled, Hobbies to Try in the New Year.

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Do you have time for hobbies? Most adults struggle to find the time to enjoy their hobbies around work, family life and other commitments. We go through life trying to fit everything in, struggling to make time for things that we love or even the people that we love. This is a shame. Having hobbies that you enjoy can improve your skills, boost your health and confidence, help you to find balance and peace and reduce stress. Hobbies can help you to make friends or improve existing relationships.

Unfortunately, however, when we fall out of practice, it can be hard to get back into the swing of things. Sometimes, it’s easier to try new hobbies, instead of attempting to get back into old ones. Here are some new hobbies that you might enjoy in 2020.

Golf

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Golf can be a great hobby. It’s an excellent way to get your steps in and enjoy a workout without hitting the gym. It can be a fantastic way to meet new people or spend quality time with your existing friends, and a good way to see some beautiful landscapes. Oh, and it can be good fun. If you’ve never played golf, look at Golf Drivers Reviews for help with what you need.

Fishing

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Fishing is another great way to see more beautiful scenery. If you fish, you’ll travel to different locations and really get out there in nature. One of the most significant advantages of fishing is that it’s stress-relieving. You’ll spend time away from work and family commitments. It’s a great chance to take a bit of a digital detox and enjoy time by yourself. Even if you fish with friends or other people, you’ll spend long periods sat quietly with your own thoughts. Think of it as meditation, with fish. Or not fish, as the case may sometimes be.

Reading

Even those of us that were once keen readers often get out of the habit as busy adult life gets in the way. You might have started going to bed and scrolling through social media for an hour before going to sleep instead of reading.

But reading is better. Social media and screens keep you awake. Reading can help you to relax and unwind. It’s excellent escapism, a great way to keep your mind active and alert and a wonderful way to get away from the stresses of life. Try to read for at least a few minutes every day, taking back some time for yourself in the process.

Drawing or Painting

Having a creative hobby is great. It can help you to think more creatively in other areas of life, boosting your problem-solving skills. It can give you a new way to express yourself, and help you to unwind. It’s also good fun.

If you don’t feel particularly skilled when it comes to art, try adult coloring or scrapbooking instead of freehand painting or drawing. There’s a creative hobby out there for everyone, regardless of your skillset.

Swimming

If you are looking for a hobby that boosts your fitness without pushing you to your limits or getting sweaty, swimming might be a good choice. Swimming is easy on your joints but works your whole body. You can go with friends or alone, and there’s no pressure to be fast. Swimming is an active, yet restful hobby, that lets you go at your own pace.

Generating The Biggest Return On Your Property Investment

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Real Estate investing is the path to wealth for many individuals. Investing in property is a complex endeavor which many would argue is a science all in its own. There are ways to get the maximum returns our of your properties. The following contributed post is entitled, Generating The Biggest Return On Your Property Investment.

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If you are a homeowner who is looking to sell their property in order to move into somewhere bigger or better, then you will no doubt want to ensure that you generate as much from the sale of your current home as possible.

There are obviously a number of different financial factors that will go into determining the value of your property and the potential return that you may see on your investment. These may include the activity of the housing market both at the time of your initial purchase and right now, and it will factor in the depreciation or increase of the value of the property due to the condition in which it has been maintained. The local market will play a part in setting the potential sale price too. Changes in the local economy and any developments on land nearby can drastically influence the current market value.

Nobody wants to see their home slide into negative equity. However, this is a very real prospect for anyone who is selling up. To Minimize the risk of your home being worth less than you paid for it, you may want to follow these tips.

Modernize Your Kitchen And Bathroom

Two of the areas in your home which may put potential buyers off will be your kitchen and your bathroom. These need to be modern areas of your home with up-to-date styling and fixtures that service modern needs.

By replacing all of your fixtures and your kitchen and bathroom tile, you will create a modern look that will be far more appealing

Create Space And Light

Homebuyers want to see properties that have ample space for them to live. One of the best ways of making your home look as big as possible is to create space by removing as much clutter and as many unnecessary items of furniture as possible. Creating an open space will allow potential buyers to see the home in the best possible light.

Remove any thick heavy curtains and look for ways to get more light into your property. You can do this by painting all of your walls white. This will help reflect natural light from your windows onto your walls.

Spruce Up Your Exterior

The first thing that potential buyers in the outside of your home. By making sure that your exteriors are in top condition, you will be able to add curb appeal and value to your property. Paint your walls with masonry paint where needed. Clean or paint all window ledges and ensure your windows are all clean. Fix any broken tiles and guttering, and make sure that your front door looks the best that it can.

Tidy Your Garden

Outdoor spaces are important to many buyers too. Nobody wants to buy a home with a shabby garden. Make sure that you do everything that you can to clean this up. Cut any lawns, and trim back any bushes and trees that are overgrown. Clean any patio areas, and think about planting some flowers too.

Take Your eCommerce To Brand New Heights

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In today’s digital age, more business than ever before takes place online via eCommerce. There are some considerations when setting out to do business in cyberspace. The following contributed post is entitled, Take Your eCommerce To Brand New Heights.

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If you are running an eCommerce business, you know just how tough it is to stay ahead of the curve and also take on your rivals. While eCommerce is a very large pie, every person in the business world seems to want a piece nowadays.

In today’s post, we are going to be taking a look at some things you may be able to add to your eCommerce business to help it flourish just that little bit more.

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Why The Future Is eCommerce

Put simply, we now live in a world that demands we work harder than ever before, so eCommerce store provides us with a solution that enables us to get out hands on things faster than ever before.

The world today has blessed us with many ways to live life a little easier while simultaneously keeping up with other demands. As of 2019, global eCommerce sales are almost $3.46 trillion, and this figure is climbing yearly.

Hopefully, this post will enable your business to take a larger slice of this pie than ever before.

Get Your Storefront Perfect

Ok, so we know that you don’t have a literal storefront, but you do still have one on your website. The most important thing to your whole eCommerce operation is your website, and a lot of the time, businesses aren’t using it to its full potential.

When it comes to your website, it’s where your business is conducted, and a lot of the time, there can be so many issues that will slow down your site.

If you really want to get the full potential from your site, you should be looking at companies out there like Scale Dynamix that can really give your store the speed boost it needs,

Let The Customers Really See The Product

One of the biggest complaints from customers that shop online nowadays is that they are never really sure of the product they are buying.

Rather than offer the same service as every other business out there, you could consider giving the customer the ability to view the entire product with 3D visualization. Companies who have embraced this have seen increased sales and decreased cases of cart abandonment.

Give The Customer What They Need

The final thing to make this post is that you should always give the customer what they want when they want it.

The key to doing this is by simply looking after your returning customers by giving them a personal shopping experience. Larger companies like Amazon have set the trend with this, and it’s become something that customers love.

By simply collecting small pieces of data while a customer uses your online store, you can tailor a service directly to them that gives them what they want the moment they arrive on your website.

By taking on this and the previous two things we mentioned, you will soon see that your eCommerce store is capable of reaching the heights you have always dreamed of.

Real World Examples Of Businesses Going The Extra Mile

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Not every business is the same and there are aspects that separate the winners from the losers, and the great from the average. These are things you want to pay attention to if you want your business to be exceptional. The following contributed post is entitled, Real World Examples Of Businesses Going The Extra Mile.

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Should you be a business owner, you will be familiar with the phrase ‘going the extra mile.’

When standing at a business conference, you will hear keynote speakers proclaiming it from the podium. When reading business blogs, you will be instructed to go the extra mile to make your business more successful. And when you’re paying attention to marketing ads, you will notice this common phrase within the pitches being offered to customers. “We go the extra mile” you will see or hear.

But what does it mean in reality? How can you relate the phrase ‘going the extra mile’ to your business?

To find out more, you need to consider real-world examples of businesses who have gone the extra mile. These are the businesses who put into practice what they preach.

They are the businesses who focus on quality

These are the businesses that are among the best in their field when it comes to quality of product.

We are thinking about companies such as Creative Motion Control who have innovated within the field of linear motion control products. They pride themselves on ‘delivering new game-changing motion control technologies,’ such as roller screw actuators that stand apart from the competitive technologies used by other businesses. They have gone the extra mile by creating products that are kinder to the environment, that have a longer life, and that have an unmatched performance when compared to others on the market.

In this example, going the extra mile refers to innovation, being better than the competition, and taking steps to protect the environment. It also refers to greater customer service as, by producing the best technnologies, customers can benefit greatly from an unrivalled product they can rely on.

They are the businesses who care about their customers

We all know that customer care is important, but some businesses go the extra mile that others wouldn’t consider. We have already alluded to this above, but we have other examples.

We are thinking about Pizza Hut who, after noticing a regular customer had gone MIA, actually called him to see if he was okay. They also sent him a ‘welcome back pizza’ to encourage his return custom. Then there is LG who discovered one of their younger customers had lost her phone after she shared the story on social media. Most companies wouldn’t bother themselves with such stories, but in this case, the higher-ups did a very honourable thing and sent her a brand new phone!

For these and similar stories of customer care, check out these customer service stories.

In these business examples, going the extra mile means surprising the customer, caring for the customer’s welfare, and taking steps to know more about the customers who buy their products.

Think about your experiences

Think about the customer service personnel you have encountered who have impressed you with their kindness, generosity, and professionalism.

Think about the products you have bought that have been better than those offered by the competition, and in some cases, innovated.

And think about those businesses that have impressed you for reasons not listed here. What did they do to meet your personal needs? And what did they do to exceed your expectations?

Going the extra mile can stand for innovation, ethical responsibility, and customer care. And it can stand for anything that you have noticed when you have been dealing with other businesses.

Finally

You don’t have to look far to find a business who has gone the extra mile, so think about our examples, think about your personal experiences, and then consider how you might relate what you have learned to your business.

How can you go the extra mile?

Introduction To Financial Modeling At Your Business

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Business is a science in itself and as such, sometimes financial models are used to project growth and future directions. If your business uses financial modeling or is considering it, there are some important aspects to consider. The following contributed post is entitled, Introduction To Financial Modeling At Your Business.

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When you discuss your financial modelling options with professional consultants, they’ll be eager to extol the virtues of utilising different software for your financial modelling needs and why you should be using finance models to develop your business prospects at all.

Before you consider whether you want to adopt financial modelling within your business, it’s worth working out what the general benefits of financial modelling are. One of the key drivers behind businesses implementing financial modelling software is that they allow different scenarios to be tweaked without having to build the model from scratch every time you want to ask a new question. Similarly, the speed of financial modelling options ensures that quick answers are given when a question is asked. What may take months of calculation otherwise can be amended easily using formula and automatic alterations.

Equally, the data can then be presented visually. This enables people beyond your immediate circle to understand the data without detailed knowledge of the intricacies of your business. Once built in something like Excel, a financial model can be adapted and used over and over again to benefit your business objectives. The benefits of financial modelling can, therefore, be easily seen and utilising an effective program ensures that your models are robust and will be as accurate as they possibly can be. If you’re already using spreadsheets, you may wonder why an expert touch is required for financial modeling. Check out Why Should I Use A TEM Provider If I Have Spreadsheets? and you will find some great information on this.

Financial Modelling To Integrate Your Data

Financial modelling can help your business in various ways. These models should benefit your unique business and be developed by expert consultants in conjunction with you. Only by creating models with professional assistance will you end up with functional and useful models that will benefit your business.

Integrated financial statements are incredibly useful in business. It’s likely that your businesses utilises several different systems for various aspects of your work. This may be a deliberate decision on your part, or it may be a legacy from previous incarnations of your business. Either way, trying to report and forecast using data from various locations can be a nightmare. Pulling all this data into a program is one popular solution. In this way, financial models can integrate your data and show it all in one place. However, to do this, you need to have experts on hand who can manipulate these other systems in the correct way.

Once you have a system set up, you will often take it for granted that information is gathered from one source and transferred to your program. Perhaps this is something you already use within your business. If so, you’ll understand the power of transferring data into software and likely appreciate the benefits of financial modelling even more. It’s important to work alongside specialist developers when it comes to financial models. More than anything else, these models must be accurate and portray your business well to the world.

Your Business Is In Debt. Now What?

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. While debt can be an important tool in business, it can also be a danger if misused. What do you do if you business goes into debt? The following contributed post is entitled, Your Business Is In Debt. Now What?

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If your business is in serious debt, it can cause an enormous amount of stress and misery. You may wonder what your options are and what you can do to turn the situation around. In this article, we’re going to take a look at some frequently asked questions so that you have the knowledge you need to proceed if the bailiffs come knocking.

What Are My Options If My Bank Calls In My Business Overdraft?

Many businesses rely on their business overdrafts to provide them with the capital that they need to survive. Unfortunately, some banks can demand that you pay back the entire overdraft immediately, not giving you any time to actually earn the money you need. If you don’t pay back the money you owe, then you can lose access to your account altogether. The best strategy in this situation is to go to another bank and open a new account, or open a separate account right now with an overdraft facility if you think your bank may shut your account.

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Can I Get Debt Counselling?

Debt counseling business services help you reduce stress, manage your finances, and work out whether you can afford to repay the money you owe long term. Through the debt counseling process, some people discover that they can no longer sustain their businesses and have to shut them down. Others realize that they can better manage their money for a happier, more productive working life.

Can My Landlord Change The Locks On My Business Premises?

The rules for business premises are different from those for your private residence. A landlord can evict you immediately from commercial premises if you fail to pay the rent. They are also allowed to change the locks, but in most cases, they must apply to the court first to do this.

What Happens If I Cannot Pay An Employee?

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In most cases, you have up to fourteen days to pay an employee any money that you owe them. If you can’t pay them because you don’t have the money to do so in your business account, then you must make alternative arrangements. Most business owners will try to come to some resolution with employees, paying them through installments if and when the money comes through.

Can Debt Collection Agencies Take Your Tools And Business Property To Repay A Debt?

Debt collection agencies are not the same as bailiffs. They do not have the right to force entry into your property and take your possessions. Usually, companies will hire debt collection agencies if you’ve missed a payment or two. After that, they may then pass the matter onto the courts and bailiffs who may decide that they can take possessions from you by force.

Can I Still Have A Bank Account If I Go Bankrupt?

In general, the answer is yes, but these accounts tend to be very basic. It’s unlikely that you’ll get an overdraft facility or the option to borrow money. You’ll also probably have to stick with a debit account.

Giving Your House Its Groove Back

Two key focus of my blog is Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. The greatest investment many people will make is their house/primary residence. In addition to enjoying your home in the here and now, it’s important to also think about reselling it one day which may require some updates and renovations. The following contributed post is entitled, Giving Your House Its Groove Back.

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From time to time, we all get bored; after all, we are only human. Boredom can strike at work, with a partner, and most prominently, it can strike at home. We are all guilty of taking a look around the home and wishing things were different.

For most people, they want to give their home a new lease of life, but available finances can often get in the way. In this post, we are going to be examining what exactly gives a house a new feel, and then we will take a look at a few things you can do around the house to really give it a brand new spark of life.

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Things To Consider When Updating Your Property

When it comes to updating your home, there are a few reasons you may want to give it a boost, and depending on these reasons, there are certain things on today’s list you may wish to consider.

The first reason most people give their home a little update is just that they want a fresh feel to their home; secondly, people also choose to freshen up their home in more extreme ways, and these ways will often be to add value to the home.

Whichever of these groups you fit into, there are a few things to consider, for those looking to add value, you will need to spend a little in order to see some return on your investment. For those who want to achieve a little freshness in the home, it’s probably not a great idea to spend huge amounts on things that won’t do a lot to the value of your property.
What Gives A House Its Groove?

When we look at the things that really give a house its spark, on the outside, we think of how appealing it is to onlookers, and on the inside, we have to consider not only how the house looks, but also how the house feels.

Now, when we talk about how the house feels, we don’t mean a system based on where your furniture is, we mean how your house feels based on psychological facts. If you aren’t quite sure what we are on about, worry not, we will be explaining a little further into the post.

Give Your Garden A Revamp

Something that often gets left until last when it comes to updating the home is the garden. If you are blessed with having space in the garden, there is no better time than now to really put some love into it.

While the inside of the house is incredibly important, having somewhere to escape to that’s peaceful and that allows you just to appreciate the world can be equally, if not more important. When it comes to giving your garden a revamp, you may consider lawn treatments and flowers as a standard, but there are some additions that will really give your garden a little extra life.

A great and cheap addition to every garden could be an awning close to the house. These awnings can provide protection from the weather, both bad and good, and can also be a great separator in the garden.

If you just want to simply clean up your garden, then you should consider Industrial Pressure Washing on any paving or decking. While some will opt for standard pressure washers, the performance levels are generally quite low, and you won’t get the same crisp, clean finish.

Create Some More Space

The next item on the list is great for both people wanting to stay in their forever home and for those hoping to increase the value of their homes, and that is some form of extension.

One of the most popular forms of extension nowadays is to create a ton of room by having the basement renovated. Unbelievable, there are over 132 million homes in the US with a basement, and most of them go completely unused.

By converting your basement, you can extend the space in your home exponentially, and if you ever come to sell the home, the renovation will usually pay for itself and then add some profit on top of that too.

Alternatively, should you not have space on the lower levels of your home, you could always aim higher. Another addition to the home that adds space and value is an attic conversion.
Just like basement conversions, a loft conversion can have many uses. Unfortunately, there are some things that cannot be used for, and this is usually why basement projects are more popular.

Update Your Flooring

If you haven’t updated the flooring in your house for some years, your house may have a certain aged feel that no amount of decorating will shake.

If you have an old carpet, this can really drain the personality from your house, and the only solution to getting it back is an extreme one. One of the best ways to really give a house that modern and sophisticated look is to update the flooring throughout.

In today’s world, the most popular option for flooring seems to be hardwood or laminate. Flooring like this is so popular generally due to its simplicity to manage. While carpets may be wonderful, warm and homely, they take on dirt very easily and can stain and be destroyed in no time at all.

When it comes to laminate or hardwood, you can set your Roomba to clean all day, and you can tackle any dirt with a simple wipe over with a mop or cloth.

Hardwood floors can also add a little extra value to the home, but it’s recommended to go with laminate should you be considering selling up.

Get Spring Cleaning

The final thing to make the post today is the one that costs nothing. While this tip is completely free, you may find yourself amazed at what a real clean and declutter can do for your home.

As we mention briefly, early when your house has its groove back, it will have psychological and visual benefits, and this is the main one that will really make your house feel amazing. When you really start to deep clean a house, you often find yourself getting rid of years of accumulated junk. The moment you start to get rid of junk, this is when you start to realize just how much space you really have in your home.

A lot of people store so much stuff that’s collected over the years, and this post isn’t saying throw everything away; it’s simply saying be mindful of keeping things around when you don’t use them.

If you have items that you could store, you should do so, as a simple spring clean can completely give your house a brand new lease of life.

Conclusion

As you can probably imagine, there is so much that you can do with your house to give it a brand new feel. Whether it’s spending to create space or even just doing a spring clean, the options are almost endless.

While we have only mentioned a few things in this post, you shouldn’t restrict yourself to just these. Maybe this post can just serve as an inspiration to you when you are trying to give your house it’s long lost groove.

The 4 Stages Of Product Design Your Business Needs To Get Right

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If your business creates a product, there are a couple of stages to be mindful of. There is a step-wise transition from creating the idea, to its research and development, to the selling phase. The following contributed is entitled, The 4 Stages Of Product Design Your Business Needs To Get Right.

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A good product is at the heart of every successful business, which is why the product design process is one of the things that all new businesses need to get right. Unfortunately, a lot of new business owners don’t know how to translate a good idea into a working product that catches the attention of the consumer. If you are planning to start your own business, read this quick guide to the product design process to help you create the best possible product. Any type of product or business has to ensure that it follows certain steps to get the most out of their business efforts. Marketing is how it all begins, but of course the idea and implementation must all tie in nicely. No matter the industry niche, it’s important to look at the idea, prototype and the groups to see how it will work. Even lawyers have to exude a certain amount of marketing skill to be taken seriously. It doesn’t just stop with digital businesses. Lawyer SEO could help in this instance of course. What industry are you choosing to delve into? Will it be ecommerce or perhaps interior design? You need to start the journey with a good headspace and a lot of enthusiasm. So what are some good ways to get started?

Good practices to carry out

1. Keep finances separate, on the one hand those of your company and on the other hand the personal ones.

2. Give yourself work hours and respect the routine. Part of the success of a business lies in being consistent with your daily work.

3. Create marketing campaigns from the beginning. You can even start launching campaigns before you open your business to generate interest and attract the attention of future customers.

4. Create your work team. The beginnings are tough and everyone knows it. Make sure you have a team to advise you on your company. It all starts with you, however.

Let’s have a look at how to begin…it all starts with a great idea.

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The Idea

Every product starts as a simple idea. When you are coming up with a product idea, there are a few important things to consider. Firstly, your product needs to fill a need of some kind. Look at existing products and think about where they fall down and how you could improve on them. Alternatively, think about common problems that people have in their everyday lives and try to come up with products that solve those problems. You also need to make sure that the product doesn’t already exist and your product is different enough to other products out there. If you just make a few small tweaks to an existing product, that isn’t enough incentive for people to buy it. You will only be successful if your product offers something that nobody else can.

The Prototype

Once you have your idea and you have finalized a design for it, the next stage is to make a prototype. Make sure that you don’t cut corners and you go to a professional company like Evans Manufacturing to get the prototype made. This initial prototype will be used for focus groups and showing to investors, so it’s important that it is good quality and it demonstrates all of the benefits that your product offers.

Focus Groups

Once you have a prototype, you need to run some focus groups to see how consumers respond to it. A lot of business owners find that, although they thought their product was amazing and it filled a gap in the market, the general public didn’t agree. Just because you think it’s a great idea, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is. Running focus groups will give you an idea of what works about the product and what doesn’t. It’s important that you test the product with a wide range of different age groups and demographics to get a clear idea of the potential problems with the product.

Redesign And Launch

It is likely that your focus groups will pick up on some issues with the product so the next step is to go back to the drawing board and make some tweaks to the design. Once finished, you are ready to put your product into production and launch it. The launch is so important because you need to get people excited and build some momentum so you see good first-day sales levels. You should use social media to advertise the upcoming product launch, and then host a marketing event on launch day. As long as you market it effectively and you have taken care during the design process, your new product will be a big hit.

The product design process is absolutely vital if you want your new business to be a success, so make sure you don’t cut any corners.