Tag: Business

The Science and Technology Behind Control Panels

Three key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In many businesses, control panels are important tools as they are used to carry out specific functions. Depending upon the business you’re running, you may want to customize specific control panels for your operations. The following contributed post is entitled, The Science and Technology Behind Control Panels.

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Image Courtesy Of Alexandre Debiève

When being tasked with setting up a control panel as part of your business, it is wise to do your research beforehand for the safety of your business. Science and technology today are moving the world forward and new innovations are being made daily to help the world run more efficiently. The same can be said for the improvements in control panels.

Companies such as OSCO Controls are at the forefront of custom control panels. In their custom control panel development process, they follow 6 steps to set your company up with the most durable control panel:

  1. Project Need Analysis
  2. Panel Design
  3. Panel Documentation
  4. Fabrication and Programming
  5. Testing and Quality Control
  6. Technical Support

It goes without saying that safety needs to come first when customizing control panels. Prioritizing the operator safety is of the utmost importance. Since your control panel is customized, it is important that all safety precautions be taken in regard to your specific control panel. The safety review will dictate the optimum control technologies, automation programming, and the control’s physical placement to make sure the operator is safe.

One of the scientific breakthroughs OSCO uses is the ability to pre-program large lift controls to stop at the customer specified height requirements. Their control panel also contains a programmable logic controller and an HMI screen that is used to control and monitor the whole system.

Their team will work collaboratively with your company to design the most specific control panel to meet your needs. Once they understand the application requirements of your company, they will analyze all variables to ensure that their electrical system design will improve productivity, simplify processes, and provide safe operation. This system gives the operator the ability to handle different tasks with the ease of a button. They are provided with precision controls, adjustable variable speed drives, and include emergency stop devices.

The final major piece a company like OSCO provides is a lasting partnership. As discussed in Benefits of running IT as intended, it is essential to have a connection with anyone who has a strong understanding of the technology behind a system. Once set up, OSCO can be used as a resource to come to with any questions or concerns. Even when the job is completed, they offer services such as:

• Evaluate and recommend new controls, technology, and design for process applications
• Onsite installation and set up
• Assess and troubleshoot issues
• Program and implement new software
• Commission and integrate product info and user’s equipment

Their expertise in the field will be able to provide you with a sense of relief in knowing that they are able to respond to any control issues that you may run into. When it comes to control panels, it is essential that you have the safest and most functional panel possible. And with Science and Technology constantly evolving, having the right company to partner with that can stay on top of the changes will make a world of difference for your business.

How To Drum Up Attention For Your Business

Two of the key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. One of the key aspects of any business is marketing and getting the word out about your products and services. This particularly key when you have competitors. The following contributed post discusses this and entitled, How To Drum Up Attention For Your Business.

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The current consumer market is oversaturated with products and services. So much so, it can be difficult for a new business looking to get a foot in the door of their chosen market. Brands are fighting to be the bigger fish in the pond while the smaller fishes are looking for any way to climb the ladder and gain as much attention as possible. Publicity for a business is a must. Recognition for a brand is a must. How you choose to go about getting the attention that you want for your business is the key, here, as everything that you decide to do will have an impact on both your company and its reputation.

Right now, your business is at an impasse. You need to stay on top of the crop in your industry while doing what you can to remain at the forefront of your consumer’s minds. Keeping up with brands in your industry has to be a priority for you if you hope to remain unbeaten and keep your name recognised. Brand recognition is so important for your customers to trust you, so never underestimate your own power to be excellent. If your business is a small one, you will already be striving to achieve the top business awards, trophies and celebrations that surround your business. You don’t need to have a huge competition out there, but you do need to stay relevant, and you need to be the best.

Complacency can kill your business, and if you want to avoid this and be a key player in your industry, then you’re going to need to know how best to attract attention to your business and what you’re doing. Getting your business name on everybody’s lips? That’s not always easy, but it can be done, and you can do it well starting now. Let’s look at some of the best ways to get attention for your business today.

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Get Online

If your business isn’t digital, it’s not going anywhere. While there are plenty of brick and mortar businesses making a killing without a website, these are businesses that have established a customer base a long time ago. To be competitive in the market today, you need to have a presence online. This means getting yourself onto social media and really getting to grips with customer communications this way. The best thing about social media? It’s mostly free. If you’re not in the position to start buying Facebook Ads or LinkedIn ads you can leave that piece of the puzzle for much later. Find the time to update your blog – use an excellent outsourcing service if necessary – and keep on top of your interaction.

Throw An Event

Getting your brand out there takes some effort, but every business can benefit from holding an event. Not only will it get the attention of new clients and prospects, but it will also show the local community that you are there, you’re public and you are relevant. You could do something for charity or for the community if you want to give back as a way to expose your brand, but you can also choose to run a workshop to share your professional ability and expertise. This is especially popular for food service businesses, as it’s an excellent way to expose your brand and draw the attention of the locals to you. An event gives you a chance to get face to face with your customers, and you can get to know what people want from you, too.

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Press Coverage

Gaining PR coverage? That’s free advertising right there. It’s a good way to gain more credibility and convince people that your business is a good one to spend time learning about, and the hardest bit about it is coming up with a way to talk about yourself in a newsworthy way. However, if you want to attract some coverage for a PR campaign, what about the event that we talked about earlier? Bring in the local newspapers and radio stations to advertise your event; the exposure is something like you’ve never experienced before.

Play Well With Others

If someone had told you at the start of your business that your success is going to lie in other companies, you might shake your head. However, you should open your eyes to the opportunities ahead of you if you attract customers through different businesses. Like-minded businesses are not necessarily your competition, either. For example, a local butcher may decide to start selling his packs of meat in the local supermarket, and they would market each other’s businesses to their customers. So, if you are offering a graphic design service, then partnering with a local t-shirt company could be a good opportunity for you to market your designs. Identifying the right businesses that can support yours can help to strengthen your brand opportunities and get you out there into the world.

Content Is Everything

Your business content on your website is going to be a part of what keeps people coming back over and over again. It isn’t just crucial for customer traffic, though. Great content that is relevant to your website will offer a connection between your brand, your possible consumers and the world around you. You have the chance to share valuable information, and it’s not something that you should put to the bottom of your priority list. Content will help to keep your brand as relevant as possible in the industry, and when you get it right, you can remain essential and deliver value.

There are many more ways than these to build brand awareness and garner attention for your business. The better you grow and promote your brand, the more you can attract the right company and people to you – not only that, but you can also win the awards that will keep your business professionally recognised. And that’s the goal for any company in the rat race today.

Essential Employees Your Business Needs!

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Depending on the kind of business you’re running, a key to its success is hiring the right employees. The following contributed post discusses the types of employees your business needs and is entitled, Essential Employees Your Business Needs!

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There are a lot of things that go into making a business truly successful. Everything from clear planning to the right levels of investment are necessary to ensure that your business succeeds. However, there’s one thing that your business needs above just about everything else. That thing is the right people. You might be the head of your business, the driving force behind it. But without the right employees, you’re never going to be able to actually turn your plans into a reality. With that in mind, here are just a few essential employees that your business really needs.

IT

The modern world is one that is run almost entirely on computers. Thanks to the right of computers, smartphones, and high-speed internet, many businesses look completely different from the way that they need even a decade ago. Because of that, you need to make sure that there are people in your business who know exactly how to handle the various challenges that can arise when trying to manage the IT of your business. Otherwise, you run a very high risk of making any problem even worse than it needs to be, wasting huge amounts of time, money, and productivity in the process.

Drivers

When your business gets to a decent enough size it becomes necessary to bring more of the various elements of your business in-house rather than outsourcing them. One of the most common things to start handling in-house is the logistics of transporting and delivering your products. Of course, to do that you’re going to need great drivers. The best thing to do is to contact a truck driver recruiting agency to make sure that you’re finding the best people. This kind of job is simply too important for you to not bring in the most reliable employees possible.

Marketing

One of the most common mistakes that a lot of business owners tend to make is that they assume that marketing isn’t going to be that much of a challenge. And on the surface, it looks pretty simple but thanks to the rise of the internet, digital marketing has become a massive force in the business world. Digital marketing can often be so complicated that it can be kind of overwhelming. That’s why having a dedicated marketing team in your business, even if it’s just a small one, is so important. After all, even the best business can’t survive if no one knows about it.

Of course, it’s not just a matter of finding the right employees who will do the job properly. You all need to think about what your responsibilities are. If you’re not taking proper care of your employees then you run the very serious risk of them becoming frustrated, resentful, and even burning out entirely. You need to make sure that you’re providing them with all of the help and support that they need. Remember, you need them just as much as they need you and only by creating that kind of balanced relationship can your business truly thrive.

Smart Ways To Build A Sustainable Business

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A lot of businesses start out but don’t make it to the finish line. Often there is something inherent in how they were built, that causes them to falter. Proactively building in ways to make your business sustainable is critical to its survival. The following contributed post is entitled, Smart Ways To Build A Sustainable Business.

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As a business, it’s crucial that you keep up with the times. This is why, every once in a while, you might follow a new practice or trend. Some of these fizzle out and fade away, but others make more of an impact and become quite popular. Sustainability is an example of one of those trends that stuck around. As well as the benefits to the planet, sustainable practices can also cut costs and boost your image. With that in mind, here are six ways to build a sustainable business.

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1. Upgrade Old Office Equipment
These days, businesses rely on technology to stay up and running. This tech varies from company to company, but almost all require computers, printers, and phones as a minimum. Sticking with older equipment can save you money in the short term, but the inefficiency of these devices will cost you and the planet. For this reason, you should upgrade to newer models.

2. Allow Working From Home
Even when you use energy as efficiently as you can, powering a whole office is still going to have a big impact, as will heating the space. The commutes your employees need to take each morning will also contribute to global warming. Allowing your employees to work from home will significantly reduce your business’ carbon footprint and offer additional benefits for everyone.

3. Choose The Right Suppliers
Improving the sustainability of your own business will mean very little if you work with companies who don’t share the same values. Because of this, you should switch to suppliers who have sustainable practices of their own. Fuel supplier, Gas Oil Drums, for example, take old oil drums away when you re-order. You should also conduct a supply chain audit and review any issues.

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4. Reduce Your Paper Use
Among the many resources businesses tend to waste, paper is probably the largest. After all, this resource is used for marketing, shipping, accounting, and so much more. That being said, it is possible to reduce your paper use. There are many ways to go about this, including sending emails instead of letters and focusing your marketing efforts on social media rather than flyers.

5. Sort Out The Trash
When you do use paper, it’s vital that you dispose of it in the right way. Instead of throwing it in a bin with food waste and other trash, you should put it in a separate one to be recycled. You can also do the same for bottles, containers, and other plastics. Many other items in your office space can be recycled too, including computers. You just need to take it to the right place.

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6. Use Green Cleaning Supplies
A clean office is necessary for a happy and healthy team of employees. Unfortunately, the products that you use for this task may cause more harm than good, both to your staff and to the planet. Many standard cleaners contain chemicals which damage the environment and can cause sickness. Using natural alternatives, like vinegar, therefore, is the better option.

Building a sustainable business does require work, but, hopefully, the tips above make the task much easier.

What Works In The World Of Construction

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. The construction business is a world all in its own. There are distinct keys to succeeding and distinct keys to failing. The following contributed post is entitled, What Works In The World Of Construction.

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If you are thinking of starting your own construction business, there are a lot of things you will want to consider in order to make the most of it that you possibly can. In many respects, a construction business is like any other kind of business, and knowing that will enable you to focus on some of the major elements in the right way. However, there are also a number of things which are unique to construction itself, and which you will need to think about in order to ensure that you can make construction work as well as possible. In this article, we will look at some of the things that really work in the world of construction which you will want to consider for your own business in order to see that it is as successful as possible.

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The Right Tools

Something that can be said for running a construction business is that you need to know how to focus on the smaller elements as much as the larger, and in many respects these small things are the kind that you are going to need to look into most of all. One perfect example of the kind of smaller thing that really matters is the tools and equipment that your people are using. You need to make sure that everything, from the aerospace cutting tools to the plant you use, is as close to perfect for the job at hand as you can possibly get. As long as your employees have the right tools, everything will be considerably easier, and you will find that this has a strong knock-on effect for your business as a whole.

Connections

You can easily say that having the right connections is something that works well for any kind of business, and it is especially true when it comes to construction. One of your major difficulties is always going to be finding contracts, and that is just something that is so much easier if you are able to speak to as many people as possible within the world of construction itself. Hopefully, you have been a part of that world yourself for a long time, so you will already have some connections you can get started with, but you should aim to never stop networking either. As long as you can keep your connections going strong, you will find that it is much more likely you will get all the contracts you need to keep your business afloat.

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Safety

Without a clear focus on safety, running this kind of business is always going to be difficult to get right. Not only is it a legal concern, but it’s also a moral one – and ultimately, if you cannot keep your people as safe as possible then you will not be able to keep your business going strong either. So make sure that you are aware of all of the possible things you need to consider if you hope for your business to remain safe and legal at all times.

Want To Run A Solo Business? Don’t Forget These Things

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you’re starting a solo business, there are a couple of key things to keep in mind as it can be a huge undertaking. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Want To Run A Solo Business? Don’t Forget These Things.

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Every day more and more people are deciding that the best choice for them is to walk away from a life of 9 to 5 employment and take their lives into their own hands by starting their own business. And this is pretty understandable. After all, the desire to take charge of your life and pursue something that you’re really passionate about is a pretty universal one. And the great thing is that thanks to the internet, doing so really has never been easier than before. Of course, that doesn’t mean that all of the challenge has been taken out of starting any kind of business. If you’re looking to start a business on your own, there are plenty of things that can make that difficult With that in mind, here are some essential things you need to remember if you’re looking to start a solo business.

The cost

There is no doubt that running any kind of business is one that will always come with at least some degree of necessary financial investment. From the cost of your equipment to the cost of outsourcing certain parts of your business that you’re not equipped to handle, you need to figure out where that money is coming from. Whether you’re investing in the business yourself or you seek investment places like Kickstarter, you need to figure out how you’re going to cover the costs of keeping your business running before you start to turn a profit.

Available resources

One of the best things about running a business in the modern world is how many resources are at your disposal to help you avoid spending too much. From things like social media that allow you to create a strong online marketing presence without spending a single penny to places online where you can get the equipment you need at a reduced price like 123inkjet Canon Cartridges. Being able to save as much money at the beginning of your business is one of the most important things about keeping yourself afloat in the early days.

Burnout

One of the most important things to be aware of as a business owner is that there is always a risk that you’re going to end up putting too much pressure on yourself and burning out. After all, no one can work every hour of the day without it taking some kind of toll on them. Make sure that you learn when to walk away from your business and take a break. Trying to put all of your energy into it is often tempting but is ultimately pretty destructive.

Of course, one of the most important things to remember is that there is no rule that says you have to do everything on your own. Sure, things like outsourcing can be incredibly valuable, but why not consider going into business with someone else. That can often bring about its own set of challenges but partnering up with someone else can be one of the best ways to create a really great small business.

Creating a Successful Business from You Art

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. The art business is a niche all with its own caveats and nuances. If you’re interested in this type of business, it’s important to know how be successful it its unique arena. The following contributed post is entitled, Creating a Successful Business from You Art.

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To build a business with your art there are three things you need to do. Of course, the most important is to be able to create work that people want, but you also need to be able to market what you have produced and put the whole thing on a proper business footing.

Create Appealing Work

This is the first thing you have to do as without any appealing work you will not make any sales. You need to make work, whether that is painting, sculptures or some other art form that people will be prepared to pay for and then you will have taken the first step.

Research Your Target Audience

Once you know the type of work you are producing you will need to do some research to find the audience that is most likely to buy it. There is no point in marketing to consumers that will not purchase items of art, as that will just be a waste of your time and effort.

There are also other things you need to be aware of such as how big is the potential market you will be aiming to engage with, and what competition are you up against? Information like this can affect your marketing strategy and the time spent on research will be well spent.

You also need to know the best places to show your pieces of work. Would that be in a public exhibition space, a commercial gallery or a studio of your own that consumers can have access to?

You can make it simple for fans of your work to connect with you by using the various social media platforms. Posting images of your work on the like of Facebook and Instagram can create a lot of interest in your products. Joining local art groups can also help to build a circle of fans that will hopefully become future customers.

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Develop A Business Plan

Businesses do not just happen; you have to work at them for success. You should start with a business plan to work out how much finance you will need when you expect sales to start to happen and how much work you need to produce each week to make the business viable.

There are other things to consider too, such as how will you move a piece of art to the address of the purchaser. There are specialist art movers that deal with these matters, but you need to have spoken to them and let them know that you may need their services in the near future.

Having Business You Love

It is really good to be able to turn a passion into a business and if you are prepared to work hard and plan every stage there is no reason why this should not work for you. Creating a successful business from your art is a great idea and one that you should start on now and not just leave it as an idea to be forgotten.

What It Takes To Be A Great Business Leader

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success, and two key focuses are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Many people want to start businesses know much about becoming great leaders of business. There are a couple of keys to it, and the following contributed post is entitled, What It Takes To Be A Great Business Leader.

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Leadership is a funny thing. Many people compare themselves to a lion, and there are many memes that talk about how to be fierce and forceful. But perhaps a real leader looks more, a wolf. One single leader, with a pack underneath them that includes workers, managers, and the weak and elderly.

But what does it take to be a great business leader? To have the acumen of people like Kheng Ly, to take things and turn them into success stories?

Photo by Eva Blue on Unsplash

Work With Your Strengths

Not everyone is good at everything, and personality matters. Being ‘strong’ looks different is pretty much any situation. But working with your personality, knowing what makes you tick can help you as you then put that to use and learn how to get the best out of other people. Being open and knowing where your personal weaknesses are is a great asset. You don’t have to label them as a weakness either, acknowledge their existence and work with them. Your personality will be a big part of your brand, and it should be celebrated rather than broken down and rebuilt.

Flexibility

Business changes so quickly it can make your head spin. Being able to roll and adapt is going to make a real difference in how you run your empire. Seeing when things are going to disrupt your company and making the necessary changes will mean that your staff and support won’t feel a significant impact, but instead, they will be able to adjust too. Following the example, you have set.

Care

While you do need to keep a keen eye on your bottom line, you also need to be aware of your staff, production line, and the people all the way down to the office cleaners. Showing that you care about their job and them as a person. Learning names, building an office ecosystem that rewards your staff and being available when you are needed will make a huge impact. Remember in Happyness, when the 5 dollars was returned? It can be something as simple as repaying kindnesses.

Focus

Focusing on your goals is going to be essential to getting things done. Avoiding distractions and not getting pulled into things that just don’t make an impact on your business is one of the best things that you can do for yourself and your business.

Authenticity

You can’t build a global brand if you are faking it. This feeds into the point about personality and your strengths too. Develop your own voice, one that staff and customers can all trust. Leaders, in most cases, can be trusted and speak honestly on any topic – no matter how difficult.

Great leadership comes in many forms, some people are said to be natural born leaders due to their confidence and curiosity, others get there in time while growing their own voice and learning. Leadership isn’t always about leading the charge, it is often about being at the back supporting others in their goals too.

Taking Care Of Your IT In Business

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Technology. In today’s modern age, most businesses use some form of technology. Information Technology (IT) services that aren’t operating properly can be costly and hurt productivity and thus their maintenance is paramount. The following contributed post is entitled, Taking Care Of Your IT In Business.

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Any business in the world needs to use a considerable amount of IT if they are to keep on top of things and to keep moving in the right direction. If you are starting up a new business, and you are unsure how to approach the whole issue of IT, then there are many things that you might want to consider in order to make it a little easier. For most entrepreneurs, the tech behind a business is one of the more challenging aspects, and it might be something that you find you need to work on in order to improve it and keep the business going strong. In this article, we are going to take a look at just some of the things you might want to do in order to properly take care of your IT. Do that, and you will find that your business is much better off for it.

Only Have What You Need

One of the biggest mistakes that entrepreneurs make is trying to get technology to do absolutely everything, even that which is clearly not intended to be completed in that way. The trouble with overusing tech is that you only end up causing more issues for yourself, as you inevitably will find that you are going to have to spend more time fixing and keeping it running than the amount of time you will have saved by using it. Therefore, you should make a point of only making use of technology where you need to, so that you can hope to keep it as simple as possible, and also keep the process of looking after it simple too.

Outsource IT

Something that the vast majority of business do these days is outsource their IT. There are many great benefits to doing this, and it is one of those things that you will find you absolutely have to do if you run a smaller business or a startup. When you outsource your IT, you effectively free up time and space in your own business for whatever else you want to do. At the same time, you will find that it is inevitably going to be looked after considerably better, and that you will run into few problems. Any problems that remain are likely to be fixed quickly by that team, and you might never even heard of it. If you visit https://www.ribbitbusiness.com/ you will see a great example of this kind of service which you might want to consider for your business.

Consider Training

If you do have any IT teams in your building, you will want to make sure that they know exactly what they are doing. In order to do that, you will need to think about training them up wherever necessary, in order that you might be able to keep the IT running as smoothly as possible. The more training you give them, the more likely it is that they will be able to do whatever is required to keep it going.

How Does EDDM Work?

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A key aspect of any business is marketing and there are several ways to market. Marketing need not be high-tech with a lot of bells and whistles and can sometimes be simple. The following contributed post is entitled, How Does EDDM Work?

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If you’re looking to put your small business on the map, have you thought about embracing the tried and tested marketing concept of EDDM, or every door direct mail? If you’re keen to increase customer numbers, target a local audience or get your name out there, this could be an excellent way to attract more attention. If you’re not familiar with EDDM, here’s a handy infographic to tell you more.

EDDM is different to conventional direct mail marketing, and it is ideally suited to businesses that want to reach out to clients in the local area. Using a service offered by the United States Postal Service, you can use EDDM to advertise your business to local residents.

The process involves a series of steps, the first of which is to create a USPS account. Once you’ve done this, use the map to select a route and choose areas to cover. The next stage is to design your flyers, postcards or leaflets. For the best outcomes, keep things simple, and make sure you get your brand message across in addition to the services you offer, your contact details and information about any promotions. Next, print your mailpieces at home or via a printing company and select a drop-off date. Arrange your mailpieces in tidy stacks of 50-100 sheets that are no higher than 6 inches. Fill out your processing forms, attach a facing slip to each order and then pay for the shipping online via your USPS account. Finally, take your bundles to the post office on the drop-off date selected and your customers will receive them shortly after.

If you’re searching for a local marketing method that will drive your business forward, why not consider EDDM?


Infographic design by Direct Mail by Catdi Printing