How to Increase Business Profit in a Bad Economy

Is your profit and loss report increasingly in the red? Many small to medium business owners and managers are watching the same sinking trend as they struggle to prop up business profitability. Here’s a powerful way approach to that problem that can revolutionize how you build your business.

Identify Key Factors: The first step in getting control of plummeting profits is identifying each key area of your business and recognizing how it affects profits. Many owners of small to medium businesses haven’t fully grasped the impact key business processes such as shipping and product pricing have on the bottom line.

This isn’t so hard to understand when you consider that the average small business owner wears multiple hats throughout the day. It’s hard to focus on a more profitable shipping method when you’re putting out fires in production and marketing.

Finding a good business planning tool is the first step in identifying what’s shrinking your profit margin. Easily understood online business tools are coming of age as small business owners race to maintain profitability. Find a business analysis tool that’s customizable for your situation and start feeding it information about how your business runs.

Analyze The Results: Once you’ve created an online snapshot of your business operation, it’s time for some analysis. Which business processes have shown a sharp increase in expenses, without adding income to your bottom line? Which departments are profit-neutral but play a key support role for other profit centers?

Here’s an example of how a business owner might analyze her key business factors: A mailing services firm finds her pricing is no longer competitive, but that they still lead the local market in delivery time. The loss of business to the competition has the owner wondering if employee layoffs are inevitable in order to bid more competitively.

With the help of an online business analysis tool, she documents a steady creep upward in packaging expense over the past two years. She also sees that the cost of fuel, vehicle maintenance and uniforms are primary factors in the firm’s declining profitability.

Make Decisions Based on Reality: With these trends well documented, this business owner can begin to make decisions about her business. Rather than immediately reducing her workforce, she uses her business productivity improvement system to project the impact of making changes in these areas.

Could she, for example, realize savings in uniform, fuel or vehicle maintenance expense by securing bids from other vendors? Is the increase in packaging expense really driven by the paper manufacturing market, or are other suppliers offering better pricing?

With those savings in hand, she can determine how much decreasing the rates she’s charging will impact her bottom line. The key is deciding which modification in the way she does business will improve business profit most significantly.

The need for this deliberate review and reflection about business profitability might seem obvious to some, but many small to medium business owners find it difficult …

Benefits Of Using Structural Industrial Racking Systems

A pallet rack is a single or multi-level structural storage system that is used to support the high stacking of single items or palletized loads. Pallet Racks are the main method of storage used by most company warehouses. Because warehouses house many different types of items of varying sizes, shapes, and weight, it is essential that a dynamic and structurally sound pallet system be used to store the items. Structural Industrial Racking Systems provide the best solutions for any type of warehouse storage need.

There are many benefits to using industrial racking systems. Because strength and durability are essential when choosing rack pallets, industrial systems are made with structural grade minimum 50,000 PSI steel. These pallet racks are also extremely versatile and allow a warehouse to increase storage density without limiting accessibility and compromising efficiency. As well, these high grade steel pallets come in varying sizes such as pallets that are suitable for small warehouses to larger multi-shelf systems for bigger warehouses. Also, the height of the pallet system can reach up to ceiling level resulting in better space optimization. Whether you require a simple racking method or a more complex and dynamic system, there are structural industrial racking methods to meet your needs.

Structural industrial racking systems are easy to add on to and expand so that as your business grows, so will your pallet system. Structural steel is far more resistant to abuse. There are systems that have heavier columns for companies who will be storing heavier and fuller loads. The structural industrial racking structure contain structural steel upright columns and load beams which make them resistant to minor impacts and thereby minimizing damage during regular warehouse operations. As well, their one-bolt beam to column connection increases system strength. Increased strength and durability are key features of structural industrial racking systems. They are able to handle high capacities which make them suitable for high traffic systems. Another important benefit of structural industrial racking systems is that it performs well in cold environments such as in refrigerators and freezer conditions.

Because companies are constantly looking for ways to improve productivity and reduce costs, structural industrial pallet systems have become an essential choice in many different types of industries. There are many reasons why pallet racking systems have been used for more than one hundred years. The advantages of using rack pallets include: better business management, maximized space utilization, improved SKU management, less on-hand inventory, improved safety, improved warehouse spacing, improved ergonomics, reduced labor costs, increased item protection, and easier accessibility to the items. You will find industrial pallet racking systems in such places as: manufacturing environments, distribution environments, retail stores, and even in archive and record storage.

Whether you are in need of a simple basic racking method or a more sophisticated system, there are pallet rack companies that provide secure, top quality, and cost-effective structural pallet racking systems that will meet your storage needs. It may be time to improve your …

A Re-Look at NAFTA – What Else Should We Consider?

Far too many people blame NAFTA on our nation’s economic problems and unemployment challenges, but I assure you, I personally am not one of them. Nor do I blame other nations for our economic ills. First, and foremost I believe we ought to look inward and into our own mirrors, and then consider what else we can do to make it more favorable for our jobs to stay here. Not long ago, I mentioned my ire to an out of state acquaintance, and she told me;

“I repeat, I do not see other nations as the root of all of our ills. I merely bring up the NAFTA point for the sake of discussion and as viewed perhaps through the eyes of persons it may affect.”

Sure, I’ve watched NAFTA over the years and I’ve watched industries like textiles, automobiles, glass, just to name a few. As those jobs went to Mexico, that was bad enough but now those jobs have moved to China, and they are helping our neighbors to the south, worse China is showing inflation, and now those jobs will move to places like Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and other nations which are only paying one dollar a day, or a dollar 50 a day, rather than the two dollars a day of the growing Chinese middle class.

It seems that the industries are chasing low-cost labor from emerging nation to emerging nation to the lowest common denominator. In some regards this brings people up to the world, but it can also cause havoc with regards to inflation rates, and a tough transition from emerging nation to industrial nation. We went through our own problems, with our own Industrial Revolution, so we know.

Thankfully world leaders are getting better at making the transition smoother, as we bring everyone up in the world. That doesn’t mean it’s not without problems. Still, if things can be produced at lower cost in other nations, and they can do it more efficiently, then theoretically from a global trade perspective that does make the most sense.

And if this is happening to rapidly for some people, I would look towards the unions as much of the cause, along with piss-poor policy, over-regulation and a runaway lift to just environment. It seems we are not a country that is run for the people and by the people anymore, rather it is for the lawyers and by the lawyers.

If we are expecting jobs in America, and if 70% of those jobs come from small business, we are doing ourselves any favors by increasing regulations or allowing litigation to run wild. Nor are we helping the job base with the government puts barriers to entry on behalf of unions which are trying to block competition. If we’re going to run a free-market economy, we need to get with the program, and stop putting all this debris in between the right to free contract between companies, …

Productivity Improvement Requires Employee Engagement and Relentless Pursuit of Process Improvements

There is a productivity crisis looming for your organization and for North American economies. The Conference Board of Canada estimates that by 2031, only 23 workers will be around to do the work that 50 do today. To make this more concrete, take a look around you and imagine that only half your coworkers are left to do the existing amount of work.

Slipping productivity will also hurt your organization’s ability to compete because your competition will be striving to do more work for less cost, decimating your margins.

Because I am in the leadership development business, you can anticipate the first recommendation: Be an employer of choice. Great leadership will help you attract and retain great employees and those great employees can create the productivity you are looking for. Let your competition suffer from not having enough workers to fill the orders they have while your company enjoys sustainable profitability.

But even that will not be enough…

Recommendation number two: You need to relentlessly pursue ways to get greater output from the same number of workers. Labor advocates might fear this means asking employees to work harder. In reality that won’t solve the problem. Generally people put in the same amount of effort over time with occasional blips that are higher or lower.

So the solution is to look for ways to improve work methods and apply technology to get more output from the existing resources.

And that means mobilizing your workforce now to get on with those improvements. Getting ahead of the curve in the short run will allow you to grow without adding resources and boost your bottom line. As older workers retire and fewer younger workers are around to replace them, you will be able to stay in business when your competitors cannot.

Both of these solutions require both strong management and strong leadership.

Reflection Questions

What active steps is your organization taking to both boost the output of existing resources while creating a work environment that attracts the best talent? What will happen to your organization if it does not take this challenge seriously?

Action Items

Examine your existing leadership practices. Now is the time to create the kind of leaders great employees want to work for.

Help teams of employees make meaningful changes to eliminate unnecessary steps, introduce time saving technology and improve output.

Wherever possible redeploy affected employees to growing parts of your business to avoid them resisting improvements because of job loss.

If downsizing is a likely result of your efforts, consider making those adjustments earlier, then help remaining employees devise better ways of doing the workload under the new conditions. …

Warehouse Shelving: Your Ultimate Solution to Warehouse Problems

If you have space problems in your warehouse, there might still be one thing that you are not yet doing. It is the warehouse shelving or the industrial racking. This is the process in where you get certain materials to improve the organization of the supplies in it. Therefore, to end space problems, shelving is the ultimate answer to this.

However, this kind of approach is not as simple as getting any kind of furniture shelving you encounter in the market. It must be planned well enough to ensure that this works best for any warehouse problem.

Choosing the Shelving Unit

There are various considerations that you need to give attention to so that the shelving will end up successful. These considerations include the following:

Shelving materials. It is true that before, it is the wooden shelving that is the most popular. However, the wood shelves tend to easily crack and rot in time. Therefore, it is best to consider more modern materials such as steel shelving unit. With the use of metals like steel, you are assured that the whole unit will stand the test of time.

Coding regulations. The shelving units that you must place in your warehouse must pass certain coding regulations. This is necessary because if officers inspect your warehouse and it does not meet the requirements, you can end up paying certain fees for it. Therefore, what you need to do is to consult professionals to inspect your warehouse and recommend specific sizes of racks you need to purchase.

Warehouse equipment. If you have the necessary machinery that can be operated to navigate even the highest of the racks, you can purchase high ones. If you have a forklift, you can get one as high as 11 meters. This is to ensure that you make use of all the spaces in the warehouse. However, if you don’t have this kind of equipment, it is best to get racks that are smaller. All in all, you need to get shelves that can be navigated easily with the use of the equipment you have in your warehouse.

Other Benefits of Shelving

Aside from the giving more space to the warehouse, it can provide other benefits such as:

It makes the products to be easily organized and maintained. With this, it is easier for warehouse personnel to track and monitor the inventory of the supplies.

Shelving gives way to the separation of supplies by type, materials, and the like. For example, supplies with medical components must be separated from less harmful materials. If the warehouse has a good shelving unit, the safety and the condition of all the supplies are well-maintained.

A good shelving system in the warehouse also gives way to the speedy loading and unloading of supplies. If it happens that there are trucks and forklifts in the warehouse, a worker can easily spot where he needs to place the supplies being loaded or unloaded.

Definitely, the bottom …

First Stage Labor – How To Cope With Transition

You’ve now reached what can be the toughest part of childbirth, the third phase of first stage, of the labor and delivery process called the transition period, or Transition. Hang in there. It can be intense! But you’re getting so close to the end of your pregnancy. The birth of your baby will happen very soon.

Transition is often the most physically and emotionally challenging part of pregnancy and childbirth. Your contractions are very intense and usually coming every two and a half to three minutes, lasting at least a minute or longer. During this phase of labor, delivery may be a few minutes to a few hours away.

As your baby gets closer to birth, he or she has now descended deeper into your pelvis. You will probably feel pressure, as if you have to have a bowel movement. Many women will begin to feel the urge to bear down, or push.

Women who have had an epidural may or may not feel the same pressure, depending on the amount and type of medication that they received and whether the baby has descended into the pelvis or not.

Coping With Transition

If you decided to go through labor without an epidural, there will come a moment during transition when you’ll feel you can’t continue. If you suddenly lose faith in your ability to do this, it is a very common reaction-a classic sign of transition. You’ve come this far. Don’t give up now! This is the moment during childbirth when you need your birthing partner’s support the most.

Here are some tips on coping through transition:

A� Change positions. It may provide some relief. If you’re feeling strong contractions through your lower back, try getting on your hands and knees and rocking back and forth.

A� Try massage. Your birth partner can either give you a light or more firm massage, depending on what feels good to you. Keep in mind some women prefer not to be touched during childbirth.

A� A cold, wet washcloth on your forehead or a cold pack on your lower back might feel good.

A� Strong counter-pressure of your partner’s fists on both sides of your lower back also can help during contractions.

A� Go sit on the toilet. It may seem like an odd place, but you’ll find it’s easy to let go and can be a great place to labor!

A� Make noise! Moan, groan, hum, sing. Open your mouth and let it all hang out! Make those sounds low-pitched not high. It automatically stimulates your relaxation response, so go for it!

The last thing many women want before birth is a distraction. Music or even other people’s voices can suddenly become very annoying to a woman during the transition phase of labor. Delivery will happen soon, so focus your mind on your baby. You’ve made it through nine months of pregnancy, you are doing a fabulous job. You can make it through …

Business Process Improvement – Calculating the Labor Cost

Have you ever wondered what a business process costs an organization or what the largest cost to a company building a product is anyway? It is usually either labor or materials, depending on the type of business, and over the decades we have seen a shift where overhead is consuming a bigger slice of the “product cost” pie.

While this article discusses business processes, and not product creation, labor is still a big cost component. So knowing how much labor a process consumes will help you better understand the cost. This article provides the basic steps on how to calculate the labor cost of a business process, which include:

List the process activities and times.

Identify the annual volume.

Determine the FTE number to use.

Determine the salary and employee benefit rate to use.

Here is more detail on each of these steps. I will use developing a product quote as the example.

First, you have to know the process time for the business process in question. Determine this by identifying how long each step in the process takes and total the actual time consumed by the activities. So, let us assume that it takes 46.0 minutes for each quote. Translated into hours, this equates to.8 hours (rounded up) to produce each quote.

Second, multiply the time from step 1 by the annual volume. Let us assume that we produce 3,200 product quotes a year. In our example, multiply the.8 hours (labor per quote) by 3,200 quotes (volume). This equals 2,560 hours spent on the quote process in a year (annual labor hours).

Third, decide what full-time equivalent (FTE) number you should use in your calculation. While the definition of FTE varies by business, it generally means the total number of hours an employee can be paid for in a work year. If an employee works 40 hours a week, then one FTE equates to 2,080 hours in a year (52 weeks x 40 hours per week). Of course employees may have holidays, vacation, and sick time available to them. To arrive at the right labor calculation to use, subtract the number of hours your company grants your employees for vacation, sick, and paid holidays.

In our example, I use 1,880 hours as the standard labor hours. I arrived at this number by subtracting 80 hours vacation, 40 hours sick time, and 10 days (or 80 hours) of paid holidays from the starting point of 2,080 hours in a year.

Once you know the FTE number to use, divide the answer in step 2 by the FTE number. In our example, divide 2,560 (total annual hours spent on the quote process) by 1,880 hours (FTE number) and you get 1.36 FTE. This means that the quote process consumes a little over one employee and almost 1-1/2 employees. Using the FTE concept enables you to account for percentages of an employee’s time spent on a business process.

Fourth, multiply the employee salary by …

What Is Natural Childbirth?

The idea and philosophy of natural childbirth is based on the belief that women were designed to give birth, and have the instincts to do so without external intervention. Before the availability of hospitals women gave birth at home, most often with the assistance of a midwife. As hospital births became more readily available to all women it became more popular. With the feminist movement also came the push for a pain free labor and delivery. Today women have the option to choose what suits them best for the birth of their baby.

The benefits of natural childbirth are endless. This includes a shorter recovery time for mom due to fewer medical interventions such as c-sections, episiotomies, and complications from epidurals. For the infant their exposure to drugs normally used during labor is drastically reduced. Natural childbirth also generally means the baby is not immediately separated from the mother, increasing the bonding experience and generally resulting in more successful breastfeeding.

Many women may be scared of the idea of childbirth without the option of drugs for pain. What can these women do to have a successful natural childbirth? Birthing classes can provide the confidence needed to work through the birthing process naturally. Classes such as The Bradley Method teach focus and control through deep breathing. Any education the mom can get on labor and delivery will help her know what to expect when the time comes, and calm any fears she may have.

The team you choose to have at the birth can also be your best defense for dealing with any pain you may face during labor. Your team may include your midwife or OB, a doula, and your husband or partner. You may choose to have other family members there to be a support, but be sure to consider the decision of who will be there carefully. This will be an amazing and stressful event, and each person there should be ready to do anything requested of them. Making sure those who are there know what is expected of them can also relieve you of worry and stress during labor and delivery. Let them know your reasons for delivering your baby naturally, then when the time comes they will be able to remind you of why this is so important to you.

The majority of moms who are able to follow through with their wishes to have a natural childbirth feel very accomplished and proud of themselves, as well they should! Delivering naturally is an amazing first step into motherhood, making a choice that benefits both of you. Giving your child his or her first moments in this world drug free will be beneficial for everyone involved!…

Massage Therapy Career Overview And Opportunities

There is now a lot of demand for professionals to work in the field of massage therapy. In basic terms, this is an occupation that involves various hands on techniques to treat stressed tissue. Experts in this field can find openings with a range of employers, from spas and health clinics, to professional sporting clubs and expensive hotels.

If you have an interest in a career in this field, you will need to find a training establishment which offers a specialist program that has been accredited by a body such as the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation. Many states require that therapists gain licensing prior to practicing their skills, this would involve the successful completion of a national certification exam.

Individuals employed with this profile can work various schedules depending upon the demands of the employer. According to data made available from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is expected to be growth in opportunities this sector of more than ten per cent in the coming decade. As of May 2009, nearly eighty-five per cent of licensed therapists were female, it should be noted this figure is not down to any discrimination.

Finding work in this field is not unlike the approach that would be required for other forms of employment. It is important to be determined, passionate, well prepared, and professional. If you were to acquire a qualification from a well known school or training center, this would place you in a great position when applying for an opening.

You should always keep a record of the massage techniques you have been trained in. This would allow for an employer to quickly identify whether you have the skills and aptitude that they require.

It would be useful if you were to join a professional organization, for example the American Massage Therapy Association. This would allow you to have access to the latest resources and job leads. It would also help in creating a more desirable resume.

You will need to understand how to locate suitable openings. It is useful if the school or training center you attend has a job placement office that helps graduates find employment. There is also the option of contacting various employers directly. The internet is also a great way to quickly identify possible opportunities. Do not get disheartened if at first you get rejected for every position you apply to, the employer may keep your record on file and contact you in the future if another vacancy is made available.…

The Ultimate Change – Are You Ready to Have a Baby?

“With a little bit of fairy dust and think of a happy thought and you can fly!” a line in the movie “Hook” and the grown- up Peter Pan learned to soar high again just by thinking about the birth of his son. Talk to a mother and try asking her what’s the most unforgettable cherished memory that she has and without a doubt, she is going to answer giving birth.

Having a baby is a very overwhelming experience, not just for mothers but also for the fathers, too. It is one of the most life- changing and life-altering decision you can make. Deciding to have a baby is so crucial that you have to think about it hundreds and thousands of times.

Sit down and give time to discuss about certain issues like the mutual decision that it is time to have a baby. “Forgetting” to take your contraceptive pill on purpose is not the right way to start a pregnancy. It involves a lot of responsibility and starting it off with deceit or coercion is wicked.

Before deciding to have kids, consider if you can afford it. Having children doesn’t come cheap. Pregnancy requires several check- up and tests and vitamins and special foods and diets. Thank the heavens above if your pregnancy will go smoothly for nine months. But god forbid, if there will be complications be ready for those four to five digits doctor’s fee.

Same goes with raising a child. The cribs, the stroller, the car seat, the baby clothes, baby food- you know, those baby’s essential needs, they can max- out your credit card in no time. Some couple might say- we’ll get by as we go along but giving a lot of thought on your financials can make the journey way lot easier for both of you.

In estimation, it costs $150,000 to raise a child from birth to 18 years old for middle class family and $220,000 for higher- income families. So, never forget to ready those financial plans and discern what you can and cannot afford if you want to avoid bankruptcy. Once you have your money-matters settled, its time to discuss the deeper aspect.

Are you mentally and emotionally ready to have a baby? Before your precious one gets out, you have to endure one tremendous pain. The labor pains. It is even believed that it’s the labor pains that made child-bearing unforgettable. Raising you kid is not as easy as raising a puppy.

It includes strong sense of self-security. Are you ready to give unconditional love? Are you ready to set aside your own happiness for your little angel? Are you willing to give- up work or career? Motherhood is all about being selfless and compassionate. Be sure you’re ready to tackle issues like frustrations, stress, weakness, responsibility and ineptitude within yourself and your partner because for sure both of you will encounter it.

The issue of the …

Supply Chain Management Tips

Effective supply chain management is a tenacious concern of executives and managers. The success of a business is heavily related to efficiency and cost reduction. It is of paramount importance that supply chain logistics is an all-the-time issue. The following article relates common concerns that can arise within the chain structure along with some ways to improve it.

First, a business must make the realization that is alluded to above. A company needs to realize chain management is vital to the business and related to its revenue stream, customer satisfaction, and potential for growth. The right system needs to be put in place and the right people need to be elected to oversee the day-to-day processes.

Secondly, a definite process and system must be put in motion, analyzed, and regularly assessed for improvement and insight. Integral players need training from superiors and constant opportunity to apply knowledge to personal experiences. A supply strategy is nonexistent without analysis, training, and continuous communication between all workers involved.

Analysis is vital, yet how does it come to fruition? Many companies opt to establish a supply chain software system to complement worker experience and feedback. The entire supply process must be checked on a daily to weekly to monthly basis as long as it is set in place. Demand, technology, and the landscape of any industry are always changing. Continuity of analysis ensures a company pleases their customers and effectively competes with its competitors.

Chains involve many people. Depending on the exact structure of a business and its industry, some workers are members of the company while others may be outsourced or involved in some form of partnership. There is no definite recipe for success. Effective management involves finding what is right for each particular business at present times. As insinuated, the recipe may change from time to time. Success is about finding the right synergy.

It is beneficial for businesses to be inviting to technology. Supply chain software has evolved and will continue to do so. Software was invented to help companies achieve desired success. Many businesses have improved the fluidity of their chain momentously by implementing supply management solutions.

Lastly, it is okay to look for help from supply chain software systems and vendors who sell the software. Communicating with outside entities can improve a business. Taking initiative and listening to the advice of others increases a present chain’s potential. Search for a trusted supply chain group that can provide strategy and related software.…

A Few Facts About Food Grade Warehousing

Whether it involves the storage of fresh fruits and vegetables, food ingredients and additives, refrigerated or frozen meats and seafood, or finished packaged food ready for sale, food-grade warehousing plays a vital role in getting food from the producers to the consumers. Food-grade warehousing also plays a key role in the health and safety of our food supply. The best food warehouses maintain an AIB Superior food-grade rating.

Here are 17 facts you should know about food grade warehousing:

A food warehouse can be a food storage facility of any size, storing any amount of food for either long or short periods of time, for distribution in normal food channels. Food warehouses serve as a critical link in the food chain from the farmer to processor to distributor to retailer and ultimately to the consumer.

Like all businesses, the goal of the food warehouse is to generate profits for its owners and provide job opportunities for workers. It serves its customers by providing access to food in and out of season whether locally sourced or from other regional, national or international sources.

The most common types of food warehouses include: dry storage warehouses, cold or frozen storage warehouses, chilled or refrigerated storage warehouses.

Safe food warehousing is vital. It prevents economic losses for all members of the food channel, facilitates economic growth and trade, promotes health and well-being within the community at large and prevents the spread of food-borne illness and diseases.

Certification programs like that provided by AIB International play a crucial role in food safety auditing and education.

When touring a food warehouse during an on-site visit, you should pay attention to the grounds surrounding the building to make sure they are free of weeds, trash, standing water, rodent tracks and/or burrows.

The exterior of the warehouse building should be well-maintained and in good repair. There should be no obvious cracks or holes in walls. Openings for pipes or conduit entering the structure should be properly sealed to prevent entry of pests. Roofs should not leak.

Inside the warehouse building, floors, walls and ceilings should be smooth, clean and maintained in good repair. Windows and doors should close tightly to prevent entry of pests.

Frequent thorough cleaning plays a significant role in preventing cross contamination and maintaining sanitary conditions within the warehouse.

Typical equipment used in a food grade warehousing include forklifts, shelving, storage bins, pallets, refrigeration units (chillers), freezer units (freezers), temperature and humidity gauges. Equipment should be rust resistant, odor resistant and non-porous, so that it can be easily cleaned and sanitized.

Food items should be stored at the proper temperature and humidity in areas of the warehouse that are free from physical, chemical or microbiological hazards.

Food items should be stored and rotated on a first-in, first-out basis.

Thermometers should be present in all frozen storage, refrigerated storage and dry storage areas. On-site temperature logs should be maintained for these storage areas.

In general, all frozen food products …

Unless you are a seasoned entrepreneur or insurance expert, the phrase “inland marine insurance” may be unfamiliar to you. Contrary to what its name suggests, this type of insurance policy has nothing to do with the ocean. In fact, it is a common type of plan in which many companies invest. Consider a few key facts that may help you determine whether your business venture would benefit from inland marine insurance.

What Does Inland Marine Insurance Cover?

Inland marine insurance Maitland FL is meant to reimburse companies for equipment, supplies, or merchandise that are lost while being transported over land. This type of coverage is often deemed necessary because property insurance policies may not apply when goods leave the specified premises.

There are many scenarios in which inland marine insurance may come into effect. First, your company could file an insurance claim if its property is lost while being shipped between two locations. Second, you may be able to take advantage of this type of policy if your property is damaged in some way while on the road. Finally, these plans frequently cover incidences of theft. Bear in mind that, like many other insurance policies, inland marine insurance features a deductible and a coverage limit.

Who Needs This Coverage?

Businesses in many different industries may benefit from inland marine insurance. If your company offers delivery of your merchandise, for instance, you may wish to insure these goods. Additionally, professionals who must travel to complete their work would be wise to invest in insurance for the equipment they carry. Photographers, for example, could insure their cameras and lenses in case they are damaged while on a shoot.

Despite its nonintuitive name, inland marine insurance is a critical component of many companies’ insurance coverage. Consider whether investing in one of these policies is a prudent step for your business’s future.…

Working out is a whole-body experience that everyone should participate in. Even if you are not in good shape, it is never too late to start. You can consult your doctor to start off the right way so that you don’t overdo it. Exercising can be simple, but there are some key components you need to think about when putting in the effort.

1. Strength

Simply put, you need to build up your muscles. It can be embarrassing not being able to open a jar of peanut butter. You don’t need to look or be as strong as Arnold Schwarzenegger, but you should still lift some weights. Always use a spotter for compound movements such as the bench press, especially if you are a beginner or approaching your personal limit. Pull-ups and push-ups are great ways to start if you are inexperienced.

If you were working out at a corporate gym, and you got injured through no fault of your own, you might consider hiring a personal injury attorney Columbia MD to help you win a financial settlement. This could potentially mean that you would be off the hook for medical bills or time missed at work.

2. Conditioning

The counter to strength is conditioning. You need to also work your heart by getting the blood flowing through aerobic exercises. Be sure to stretch beforehand to prevent any injuries. If your joints are prone to malfunctioning, you may need to wear protective equipment such as knee braces. Jogging, swimming and rowing are all good options here.

3. Cool-down period

Once you have exhausted your body by lifting weights and running, you will need to slow things down a bit. A yoga routine where you stretch and release the tension you have built up might be just the ticket. As you perform these techniques, you can practice meditation and mindfulness to put you at ease. Breathe in slowly through your nose as you fill your belly with air and release it through the mouth in a controlled manner.

By exercising, you are increasing your chances of living a long and happy life. If you pair your routine with a nutritious diet, you are way ahead of the game.…

Moving Labor – What Do You Get For Your Money?

Moving home comes hand in hand with a number of stress factors: packing, loading and unloading and in some cases, a lot of driving. However, there is a solution known as moving labor. Moving labor does exactly as it suggests, employing a service that is able to deal with all those factors of home moving, plus so much more.

Moving labor services have proven to be an invaluable asset to families of all sizes looking to move home. Moving labor service providers offer a comprehensive range of skills in order to make your moving day a less stressful experience, relieving much of the burdens associated with moving home. Moving labor service providers will provide you with help in a number of different ways and will be more than welcoming in adapting to your individual needs. Whether providing manpower to assist with packing, loading and unloading and even driving the moving truck; they can provide invaluable help by decreasing the workload of the consumer.

In effect, your money can buy you a complete moving labor service that will do the hard work for you, leaving you free to simply direct and commence with your moving day plans. For many customers, taking up the option of a complete service from packing through to vehicle operation tends to be the best solution for a smooth moving day. This can be particularly true for those who are more vulnerable due to age or health or those of a large family who may have a number of bodies to control throughout the day! Being relieved from the worries of packing, loading and driving your moving truck can lift a huge weight from your shoulders – especially if you are unsure where to begin with the process of moving your household possessions.

Should you require moving help, the internet is a fabulous place to begin your search. With a number of service providers to choose from, there is certainly no shortage of companies to call upon to assist you with your all important moving day. Whether you’re looking for a local or a national company, you are guaranteed to find a company that best fits your needs. If the choices prove to be too overwhelming, it is advantageous to carry out a comparison search using the web. A comparison website, for example, will be able to compare the best quotes and services on offer and ensure that you end up with the service most befitting of your house moving requirements. Thorough research is the key to finding the most ideal service solution. Internet search engines will provide a myriad of options when typing in moving labor services. From there, it’s a good idea to access company websites and read up on company profiles and review customer testimonials, as this will give you a well rounded perspective of what to expect from a particular service provider. It is also a good idea to review consumer websites to …

IT Support in Different Business Areas

The era is now of technology innovation. All credit goes to the IT facilities and systems while facilitate any field and its achievements. For example in the health sector, the hospitals now use the medical transcription systems for the betterment of all the patients, as well as the doctors and the medical staff. IT systems that can store data and transcribe the recorded data from recorded files by doctors for OPD and surgery, will help other doctors and the scientists to research and find cure for many diseases incurable up until now. The data is also used to provide easier treatments than before for many other minor and major curable diseases.

IT sector

Similarly, in the IT sector, the data storage and data warehousing (DW) is used. Database management systems and the HRIS are two most favorite examples from the corporate world, which explain the achievements of such sectors with data security and low data redundancy due to IT operations. Data warehousing is the technique used in which the data is stored in a remote yet one unique location through different sub servers like Marketing, HR, Sales, Accounts etc., and then the whole data can be used for different purposes in one company. This data may be of clients as well as of the company itself.

This data has to pass from the many operations including data manipulation check, data copies etc., before going into the data warehouse. The concept of extract, transform and load (ETL), work the best here in the DW. As the name identifies, the data has to be checked before uploading into the system, for better unique results. After that, the extraction of useful patterns of data and needed facts is done. When the check and transformation is complete, it is put to the data warehouse for use.

HRIS

HRIS (human resources information systems) also, is an achievement of the IT solutions and IT interventions. Previously, around a decade ago, companies used the manual HR processes, and this took most of their time. For example, screening of the CV’s for a qualified job vacancy, the management of employee pays and the management of the whole performance management system (annually or semiannually), all were done with time taking manual approaches.

Now with the systematic approach to the HR operations, less manual work is required even in the generation of a CV database, the selection of candidates, performance appraisals, and compensation areas.

Outsourcing

Another example of the IT services is the new and emerging business of outsourcing. Now any company, not able to pay for any of its operational part within its own budget limit, can take help from an outsourcing company, working in the same expert area. This will allow the company to save a million dollars on the expenses done otherwise, and the company operations will still run smoothly. Through outsourcing, the resources are efficiently utilized, and the cost is minimal as well.

For all those who do not know …

The Pillow Warehouse

Just thinking about pillows make some people feel so comfortable, relaxed and ready to sleep away the day. Ask those who have a bad pillow and they will tell you that it is a nightmare to sleep with. However, many of us forget to swap out our old bed pillows when they need to be changed and only remember when our heads hit those nasty pillows. Pillows for our beds must be changed out every so often, because they lose their ability to be supportive as they once were when new.

There are many different sizes and styles of bed pillows available on the market today. Some people prefer a smaller size of pillow while other individuals favor large and long full body pillows to sleep with each night. The choices that are available today are so numerous that there is a perfect pillow out there for just about any sleeper.

Some individuals will need a different pillow depending upon how they sleep. For example, if you are an individual who sleeps on his or her side, there are pillows that are made just for you, to give you the support that you need while on your side during the night. In addition, many people use a supportive pillow between their knees at night to take the pressure off of their backs while they sleep. There are different pillows to give that support and also to cradle the head and neck more comfortably.

If you favor sleeping on your stomach, chances are you do not want an overly fluffy pillow, one that your face will just sink down into. Stomach sleepers need a different pillow to give their head and neck the support while not smothering their face at night. Those who sleep on their backs need to have the support so that their spine is not pulled out of alignment during their sleeping.

Most pillows used to come in just the regular or standard bed pillow size. Today, there are king size, travel size, European size, etc. One of the most popular of all pillows is the current memory foam trend. This material conformed to the sleeper’s head but will retain its shape and form very well. Memory foam pillows can last a great deal longer than the traditional pillow.

Some individuals still favor the old fashioned feather or duck down pillows that their grandmothers used on the beds. While these pillows can still be purchased they are not good for those who suffer from different allergies or have asthma. If you are an asthma or allergy sufferer you may also need to have protective covers on your bed pillows so that they can be removed from the pillows and washed regularly. This is a great way to keep down the allergens that plague so many sleepers at night.

There are so many pillow choices out there that many customers can feel overwhelmed. The best thing to do is to research all of the different styles …

5 Natural Ways to Induce Labor

If you have reached full term of your pregnancy, but the baby is still refusing to come, it may be time to try some natural ways known to induce labor. Before trying any of these natural methods, be sure to check with your doctor. They may not be appropriate in all cases.

Many women find that reflexology helps to induce labor. Reflexology involves massaging certain pressure points on the foot said to be connected to other parts of the body. A good reflexology therapist may help the baby decide it is time to greet the world.

Some women swear by heading to the park to take a swing on the playground swings. Others prefer heading to the amusement park. The swings and bumps are said to give the unborn child a small push that starts the natural birth process.

There are several foods and drinks that are also said to help. Women may want to try one or more of the following foods.

Balsamic vinegar – Sprinkle some on your salad or other vegetables. Another option is to add a teaspoon of the vinegar a glass of water and drink it down to induce labor.

Basil and Oregano – Both these spices, often used in Italian cooking are said to induce labor. Cook up some pasta and throw a little of one or both of these spices into the sauce.

Black or Blue Cohosh Tea – This tea is often used by midwives to induce labor or to make contractions that are already occurring to become stronger. However, there are reports that this tea can have bad effects on both the mother and the baby. Before trying this tea, it would be best to spend some time reading about the effects.

Chinese Food – The spices and other ingredients used in Chinese foods are said by some to induce labor. While scientific studies on the effect of this food are not available, if you enjoy the food, try some when it is time for the baby to come out.

Eggplant – Perhaps it is the basil and oregano in the food, but there are many women who swear that eggplant parmesan is an excellent way to induce labor. The tasty dish is a great way to enjoy Italian food without all the heavy pasta.

Spicy food – Spicy food can upset the digestive system and may in turn cause movement in the uterus. If you are desperate for labor to begin, it might be worth a try.

The motion of swinging one’s hips and moving around while dancing helps to motivate the baby to enter the birth canal. Keep your actions sane and avoid actions that could cause the baby stress.

Sex may also help to encourage the birth process to begin. Sperm can soften and dilate the cervix, while orgasms can help to begin contractions.

Natural methods of inducing labor can help to bring the baby into the world. Reflexology and foot massage …

Mattress Warehouse – Great Deals in the Making

Mattress warehouses is where one can find the best as well as the most affordable mattresses for their bedrooms. Let us look at some of the key facts relating to mattress warehouse.

1. The Mattress Warehouse was started in 1983 as a retail store in Charleston, Wet Virginia.

2. It housed and still has one of the best mattresses around as far as the quality and the price of the mattresses is concerned.

3. Mattress Warehouse now has more than thirty outlets throughout America and it is very rare that you would not find one in or around your locality.

4. The beddings available here are of different sizes and shapes and a person with any needs and requirements can find a cushions for himself here.

5. There are different brands of beddings available in the Mattress warehouse and most of them have been chosen based on their popularity among the mattress purchasing crowd and also depending on their quality.

6. The mattresses though are branded and of international quality, you will not come across any mattress which is over-priced or too expensive. They are so very affordable that you will not have to carry a big bundle of money to buy them.

7. The customer service available at mattress warehouse is of the highest quality and does not get annoyed to make even the most ignorant customer clear about things related to the mattress. You can go to Mattress warehouse not only to shop for the mattress but can also go there and find out some important facts and details relating to mattress so that your purchase would become even more profitable and beneficial.

8. Mattresses might be the major product that the owners of Mattress warehouse would be selling but that is not it. There are lots of things other than the mattresses that one could find at the Mattress warehouse. They are adjustable beds, futons, day beds, pillows, bed frames of wood, iron and brass.

9. The company has won several awards and recognitions for its quality and products offered and most of the suppliers and customers can make out whether the mattress has come out of Mattress warehouse or not by just looking at the rates of the mattress.

The following are some of the tips to know that the old mattress of yours is no longer effective and that you must go for a new one.

1. If the bedding is becoming saggy or if its losing its softness or does not come back to its original shape after the person sleeping on it gets off from it, then it means that you need a new mattress for your bed.

2. If getting on or off your mattress gives out some strange creaky sounds, then it is a good indication that you must be going for a new mattress. In other words, the old mattress is telling you in its own language, ‘There is nothing wrong with …

How Do I Get My Online Orders Once I’ve Clicked Buy?

Online shopping has become a major convenience for many consumers. The ability to buy online is a great luxury that many of us use as an alternative to shopping in stores. It’s a process that can be tracked through a route that starts as soon as customers submit their orders.

The after sales process works much like the process before purchase when the item resides in a shopping cart. The shopping cart item will move right along with the customer as they travel from one page to the next. The item stays in place until the customer reaches their final destination and completes payment. Phase two begins once the payment is made. It is in this phase that the package bares a unique order number – this order number moves from the computerized list to the warehouse and to the shipping floor.

Companies that sell products online will generally have employees in place to handle the orders that are received instantly and need quick fulfilment. These orders – sometimes referred to as alerts – are moved from automated computer processing to the human realm as the order receives an order number and is placed in a priority according to status.

Items are shipped in order of priority. Customers that choose overnight shipping methods are flagged and put at the top of the list of orders to be processed. These are the first products that are pulled from the warehouse once the order has been placed. The other orders are pulled from the warehouse after the overnight orders have been taken care of. This is important because these items are on a tighter time schedule. They must be handled as first priorities.

The packages are visually inspected for any obvious damage once they are pulled from the pallet inverters & stackers in the warehouse. It is at this point that the package is scanned internally as “ready” before it is picked up be carried. During this time the internal scanner registers the package in the company’s system as an order that is being processed. A customer that has made a purchase may see a status that says that the package is scheduled for delivery. The status changes to shipped once the package is picked up.

The order already contains an internal tracking number for internal use, but it will also receive a tracking number from the transporter once it is ready to be shipped. This is typically the number that will be used by those that want to track the location of the package as it moves – you and I. At this point it is out of the company’s hands, but customers can still track it. Companies provide users with shipping information from the carrier. This allows the user to see exactly where the package may be from time to time.…

Labor Less on Labor Day – A Guide to Throwing an Easy Labor Day Party

Labor Day takes place every year on the first Monday in September. The holiday was first celebrated in 1882, marking a day to cherish the incredible achievements of American workers. At the time the Pullman railroad strike was in full swing, and President Grover Cleveland was faced with anxious railroad executives, protests and riots. Cleveland declared the strike a federal crime and sent 12,000 troops to break it up, resulting in the deputy marshals firing on protesters, and deaths of two men. Cleveland passed the bill to make Labor Day a national holiday shortly after, hoping to reconcile with the American labor force. He was not reelected.

Today Labor Day is recognized more as the unofficial end of summer in the U.S., and is seen as the last chance to have fun with summer activities: swimming, camping, picnics etc. It is a great opportunity to throw a party or cook-out of your own. You may think that the last thing you want to do on Labor Day is break your back hosting a party, but if you get an early start and keep things casual, you can host a Labor Day party that won’t feel like work! Here is a time-table to help you plan and organize:

One Week Out

-Make an invite list and mail invitations out. You can make it very causal and just email or Facebook friends and family.

-Come up with an overall theme and shop for the necessities. Don’t feel trapped into a patriotic theme; a luau or beach-themed party is just as appropriate! You could even have a white party to celebrate your last chance to wear the color before Labor Day (although wearing white after Labor Day is not really considered a faux pas by most anymore). BBQ and picnic foods are a great way to say goodbye to summer. Make things easier on yourself by hosting a potluck, or ask each guest to bring their favorite items to throw on the grill. You can find great ideas for handmade decorations, candles, invitations and more at online vendors like .

Three Days Out

-Clean up the house or yard; wherever people are going to be.

-Inventory your serving dishes and food and grocery shop. If you are hosting a family-friendly event, consider making an ice cream party punch or “mocktails” that guests of all ages can enjoy. Parents of younger children will be grateful if you set up an area where they can play. You can easily organize Labor Day activities by printing off Labor Day coloring sheets or making community helper hats out of paper plates, bowls and crayons.

Two Days Out

-Finish any last minute grocery shopping.

-Let your neighbors know about the party (if they aren’t invited).

-Cook or prepare anything that can be made ahead of time.

The Day Before

-Decorate! Don’t kill yourself by over-doing it or getting caught up in the details; …

How to Start Labor on Your Own – The Best and Most Natural Ways to Self Induce Labor

If you are near or past your due date, then you know exactly how uncomfortable you are feeling. You have a full term baby inside of you and it is weighing you down, literally. You feel bloated all of the time and the level of discomfort that you are constantly experiencing is enough to drive you crazy. All you want is some relief.

You want to know how to start your own labor because you don’t want to rely on medical induction by any means. You want to be able to make this happen the natural and safe way, without any risks or side effects. Making sure that your baby is delivered safely is important to you and you want to make that happen today.

In order to start your own labor, there are a few things that you can do. Eating spicy food is a great way to naturally induce labor. The reason it works so well is because it forces your body to speed up. You know how you feel when you eat something spicy and you can feel your heart rate increasing, well the same can be had with labor. Eating something spicy will definitely help to get that baby out of there.

Another way to jumpstart your labor and to give birth fast is to go for a car ride on a bumpy road. This may sound like an old myth, but it works like a charm. It works because it causes bubbles in your water, forcing it to break. You want your water to break because you want the baby to come out. When that happens, then you know that things will start to happen soon and that you should begin preparing for them.

Another way to induce your labor is to have sex. Although sex is probably the last thing on your mind, it is great for inducing labor and getting on with things. The reason it works so well is because when you have an orgasm, your cervix dilates a little. With this small change in the size of your cervix, it prompts the baby to want to come out. As well, if your partner ejaculates inside of you, this is another way that you can jumpstart your labor. People believe that sperm helps to induce labor, so maybe sex is something that you should consider.

Using all of these tips will help you to get the relief that you have been looking for so you can finally start to make some headway and get closer to giving birth.…

Turning Our Backs on Capitalism is Going to Cost US!

Not everyone is a firm believer in capitalism, over the years academia has brainwashed a large part of our educated society that capitalism is bad, and that socialism and communism might actually be the better venue for the future utopia we all seek. However having participated personally in capitalism, having run a business, made a payroll, and built a large company, I disagree. And my practical experience in the real world for the last 27 years trumps anyone else’s PhD, because they are only studying theory.

Okay so, someone who is against capitalism might say that it brings out all the greedy bastards in the world, who are trying to rip people off, manipulate the consumer through trickery and marketing, and trash on the employees and the labor. However, this is not the case because if someone is greedy and they want more, they must produce more of what people want, and not only must they produce what people want, they must produce what people are willing to pay for. In doing so they bring everyone else in the society what they need.

In many ways capitalism takes those unfortunate psychological attributes which we know to be innate in the species and turns them into something very positive. If the consumer does not want a product the company produces, no is holding a gun to their head and making them purchase (exception: Obama Care makes it mandatory to buy health insurance from a company), and labor doesn’t have to work for a company which treats them poorly. The problems we are having with our economy, society, and political unrest has nothing to do with capitalism being evil.

After all, capitalism built this great nation, and I guarantee you the population does not consider itself to be evil. We are a great nation, we are a giving nation, and we are holding up the entire world. It’s nothing to feel guilty about. In fact the US should be commended for proving capitalism works, even though we don’t have entirely free markets. But what we have noted is the closer we get to capitalism the better we do, and further away from it we get the worse we do.

I would submit to you that turning our backs on capitalism is going to cost the United States dearly. Why you ask? It’s simple really because we turned our backs on the socio-economic strategy that made us great, Capitalism. Today, those who hate capitalism took control of the very flows of labor and money which allow it to bring everyone up, we’ve moved away from what capitalism is, thus, all the gained synergies of capitalism, are now turning our backs on us.

Why on Earth would we have expected any other possible outcome? The US and her people deserve what’s happening now, because we are destroying the very methods and strategy which got us here.

Ayn Rand was right, along with Milton Friedman, …

Driving on the road has its risks. Those behind the wheel have a responsibility to maintain the rules of the road, establishing order and avoiding harm; however, despite best efforts, accidents occur. The crash of metal to metal is quite detrimental, possibly inflicting serious and permanent injuries. When this happens, you need to know how to proceed, obtaining the right help and financial assistance. The following are three things you should do.

1. Seek Medical Treatment

The impact stuns many people, and, at first, the shock may diminish any pain from the wreck. Because of this state, some sufferers tend to wait to see a doctor; rather, you should have a thorough medical evaluation immediately following the event.

If you don’t, make an appointment as soon as possible. See someone who specializes in car accidents as this professional knows how to spot soft tissue and spinal injuries.

2. Speak With Your Insurance Agent

Be sure to let your insurer know about the accident. File the police report number with them, and send any pictures from the scene. Do this on the day of the accident. Write down your claim number and get the agent’s email address so you can keep in touch.

3. Consult Legal Counsel

Hire a car accident lawyer Durham NC who can look out for your best interests. Insurance companies may choose to close out cases at lower amounts. Based on your afflictions, the legal team could get you money to offset long-term medical expenses.

You may require time to heal after a car accident. Be sure to work with insurance and legal professionals who can provide you with the opportunity to get better without worrying about mounting bills. For this to be possible, it’s best to see doctors and a lawyer as soon as you can. Listen to their advice, and allow the experts to handle negotiations.

…

How to Choose the Perfect Office Warehouse Space

It can be a great move for all the small business or even the new ones to look for a warehouse space for lease. There are so many advantages if you would get an office warehouse space such as saving money and giving more room for your business’ flexibility as well as improvement. So in order to get the perfect space which can be your gateway for growth, here are some tips that may help you out.

1. Think about how much space you really need. You must also consider the items that you would store in the warehouse. Think how much electricity you would consume if you were to use the space. There are some office warehouse spaces that would only let you use the space itself. If people will be working within the warehouse then you must have amenities such as restroom, a room where they could take a break, and of course proper ventilation.

2. Analyze the amount of time that you would spend in the warehouse. If you think that you would only spend half a year or so, ask the owner of the space if they have some customizable plans that would fit the terms you need for your business.

3. Check for the building’s safety. It must have a fire exit and follows the various safety codes.

4. Ask about the different warehouse services that are provided by the landlord. Take time to have a little chat with the other tenants and get their feedback about the storage space.

5. If your business would require you to receive and ship a lot of goods, see to it that the location of the warehouse is accessible. If possible, look for a space for lease that is near the seaport or any delivery dock to load and unload the goods easily.…

Utility Warehouse Discount Club

Is the Utility Warehouse business for you?

Utility Warehouse are a dependable company with award winning customer services. The consumer magazine Which? has awarded The Utility Warehouse broadband and home phone bundle as a best buy for 3 years on the run. Which? also awarded the Utility Warehouse best supplier for gas and electric in 2008; 2009; 2010 and 2011. The survey’s carried out by Which? included quality of product, customer services, value for money and accuracy of bills.

If you want to become an Independent Distributor the first way to make money is a customer gathering bonus. This is paid for introducing a customer and the amount of bonus is based on the number of services the customer signs up to.

The second way that as a distributor you can earn money is through customer volume commission. This is paid to the distributor as a percentage of the customer’s monthly spend. The way the commission is worked out has been amended this month and has increased my commission payments by about 66% per month.

There is a third way you can earn money from being a distributor. If you introduce someone who becomes a distributor you also receive a percentage of their customer’s monthly bill. Unlike other companies commission is paid on all the distributors in your team. This guarantees residual income for life.

There has been recent changes to the rules about joining Utility Warehouse. There is a joining fee of A�100 instead of A�199.95. For that you get all of the marketing materials and training you need. This fee and another A�200 is repaid when you sign up twelve customers in your first three months.

The training is high quality and you can attend as many training courses as you want. This is all included in your signing up fee. It is compulsory to attend the training before you can sign up your first customer. The course will help you understand the services and how to show the potential customers the benefits of switching to the Utility Warehouse.

Once you’ve attended the training and had everything explained to you you will see that the products sell themselves. There is a further 10% discount on energy after 12 months if the customer takes 4 services or more. If the customer takes 4 services or more they benefit from free phone calls nationally and to 10 global destinations. There is also an offer where the Utility Warehouse will pay up to A�200 to get someone out of their current contract.

The growth of your business will be based on referral’s from customer’s. Once they have started using the services they will tell their friends and family as well as work mates and your business will grow from there.…

Understanding Right to Work Laws

Right-to-Work Law

Texas is what is called a “Right-to-Work State.” This means that Texas is one of 22 states, mostly southern and western states, in which it is illegal for trade unions to sign agreements with employers requiring employees to be members of that union in order to work for that employer.

Union Shops

When unions have agreements with employers like this, the employer’s workplace is colloquially called a Union Shop. While you don’t need to be a member of the union to be hired, you do need to join the union after a certain time period elapses. This means that everyone working there is a member of the same union. Let’s say that you live Michigan and are seeking employment working on an automobile assembly line. To get the job, you would have to become a due-paying member of the autoworkers’ union at the plant.

The 22 states in which this is illegal believe that it is wrong for workers to be forced to pay dues like this. They believe that workers have a right to work, hence the name of the law.

History

The Right-to-Work Laws were first created by the Taft-Hartley Act, which was signed into law by President Truman in 1947. It illegalized the “closed shop” employment policy, in which an employee had to be a member in good standing of a particular union in order to be employed at a certain place of work to begin with. To reuse our automobile plant example from earlier, in a “closed shop,” you would have to already be a member of the autoworker’s union in order to be hired in the first place.

The law sought to reduce the potentially criminal aspects of requiring union due-paying as a requirement for employment, and to support a worker’s right to seek employment wherever he or she wanted.

Advantages of Right-to-Work Laws

One of the obvious advantages to living in a Right-to-Work state is that you aren’t forced to pay dues just to work for an employer. Some consider this as close to robbery, or being forced to pay protection money. In addition, right-to-work states often see greater economic expansion because employers have a wider and less expensive work force. Because of this, many companies are moving factories to right-to-work states.

Disadvantages of Right-to-Work Laws

There are also downsides to the policy. By taking away the benefits of unionizing, labor organizations experience what is called the free-rider problem, in which employees can benefit from unions without being due-paying members. This makes it hard to convince people to pay the dues a union requires to keep running, since the employee benefits whether he pays money or not. This reduces the effectiveness of collective bargaining, the process by which unions seek more favorable work conditions. Without collective bargaining, a union is virtually powerless.

For more information about business law in Texas, visit .…

What Not to Do When Growing a MLM Business

Are you doing more for others than for yourself when it comes to building a successful MLM business? Why are you working so hard for other people and not for yourself.

There was a woman, who I believed to be an independent representative for a cosmetic company, I felt she was a very good business woman and network marketer. She would work her way through the office building with a catalog and a smile. She carried herself professionally and she was able to convince people to purchase items from her even after they would say they didn’t want to make a purchase. She would return to deliver orders to her customers and talk with them in order to make sure they were satisfied with their orders.

It was during a conversation, when I learned she was not involved with network marketing or an independent representative. She was selling products for someone else. You should have saw my face. I was shocked by this news. I couldn’t believe she was conducting herself in such a professional business manner and making what appeared to be good money for somebody else.

I’m sorry but that just doesn’t make good sense to me. I tried to understand why she would work so hard perfecting her sales skills only to have someone else take the credit and more importantly all the financial gains from her efforts. She was working literally for free for the next person and not for herself. She explained to me that she was a independent representative for another company, but was unsuccessful. Now she enjoys helping her friend for free.

Do you think her friend would work for her for free if the roles were reversed? I doubt it. The friend is building a business and doesn’t mind receiving free labor. Would you love free labor? Her friend is striving towards her goals and any effort she puts out she would want to be compensated for. Wouldn’t you?

You know that there is nothing wrong with volunteer work, you should always give back to your community or to a cause you believe in. However, you should never let someone take advantage of you even if you are friends and vice versa. If you have people helping you, compensate them nicely so that they will continue to help you grow your MLM business and you never know they may bring you some more helpers.…

Renting Warehouse Space For Your Personal Possessions

If you are gearing up for a big move or if you want to remove some of the clutter from your home, basement or attic, consider renting warehouse space. Renting a warehouse will give you an offsite location to safely store your items that is climate controlled and secure.

Before you sign the lease on the warehouse space you’ll need to visit the facility to inspect the premises first hand. You’ll need to be comfortable with where your valuables will be stored, and you’ll need to make sure the warehouse is clean and have proper security systems. You may also want to check to see how your items will be stored while in the warehouse. Will they be on pallet racks or shelves? Will there be secure wooden containers for loose items? How do warehouse employees handle the items? Warehouse management may require employees to move items to allow access to other items, so be sure to watch them while at work to see how carefully they operate warehouse machinery.

You should have a good idea of how long you’ll need to rent the warehouse space. Don’t sign a lease for an entire year if you only need to store your possessions for a couple of months. Find out the prices for month-to-month leases or if the warehouse offers a 6-month or 8-month leasing contract. If you need long-term storage, find out if the company offers long term leasing policies and make sure the rental fee doesn’t skyrocket after the first year.

Once you decide on a warehouse space to rent and sign the lease with the warehouse manager, you can start transporting your items into your designated storage area. You can either move the items yourself or hire a moving company to do it for you. Some warehouses will provide you with a moving and transporting service, which is recommended because they can store and stack items into your rented space in a way in which it is easier to be moved and stored. The packing materials you choose can also have an impact on the way your items are stored. Professional packing and moving companies or warehouse employees can assist you in maximizing your packing and wrapping to ensure efficient warehouse storage.

As your possessions are being moved into the warehouse space, an inventory will be taken. All paperwork will need to be done at this time for legal reasons to document the exact amount of items and the condition they are in at arrival. When it is time to retrieve your items, the condition will be checked to ensure nothing was damaged during the time that the warehouse space was leased.

Many warehouse facilities offer add-on features to renting space. You may wish to purchase insurance, or it may be offered to you as part of your rental fee. Many warehouses also have bathrooms, showers and offices available for those who need to work or are storing goods that are …

Labor and Employment Law – Three Concerns for Business Owners to Address

Employment law governs interactions between management and labor. It also details the way in which management is responsible for the environment of the workplace and, to a certain degree, interactions between labor force members. Employment law continues to evolve in response to a changing society, so business owners need to be proactive about remaining compliant. EEOC compliance software and ad tracking software can be valuable tools in meeting compliance goals. There are three compliance concerns all business owners must be sure to address.

1) Diversity in the Workplace

A lack of diversity in the labor force of a particular business is not necessarily due to deliberate efforts to exclude a specific group or groups. It can sometimes be a result of not casting the employment opportunity net wide enough to attract diverse applicants during hiring periods. However, that explanation may not suffice in the event of a complaint. Therefore, a special effort should be made to avoid the appearance of hiring discrimination by placing ads for employees in a variety of venues. Ad tracking software can help keep track of the success of ad locations in attracting a diverse group of applicants and EEOC compliance software can be a labor-saving means of tracking hires to ensure that diversity goals are being met.

2) Maintain an EEOC Compliant Atmosphere

An essential element of a successfully diverse labor force is an atmosphere that is respectful of differences, featuring zero tolerance for the harassment of protected groups. The bottom line on this matter is simple. The business owner is responsible for the work atmosphere and must see to it that sexual harassment, discrimination, and other behaviors specifically addressed in employment law are not tolerated. In the event of such a problem, there should be specific and effective means of resolution available to the labor force. Obviously, it should be plain that retaliatory action against a complainant is unacceptable.

3) The Termination Paper Trail

Termination has its dangers for the business owner. A job loss, particularly in this challenging economic climate, may not be accepted gracefully. Tempers could flare, resulting in an unjustified complaint. It is essential to make sure that all terminations comply with the letter of the law and to make sure that every step of the process is documented, in case it is necessary to defend the business in court against a wrongful termination complaint. In potentially contentious matters like termination, there can never be too much documentation.

In order to follow the letter of the law, however, it is necessary to know the law, and to keep track of its evolution through court rulings and interpretations of the law. Recent decisions concerning automatic terminations related to not returning to work after a leave of absence offers a good example of the sort of changing applications of employment law that a business owner must keep up with the remain compliant with EEOC expectations. According to recent EEOC interpretation, that …

Never Underestimate Manual Labor Jobs!

If you ever did this, you are definitely wrong! For some of us, coming home from a day of lifting, digging, pounding and carrying can be more satisfying than a bank accountant counting the notes. Read on to find out the different types of manual jobs.

Construction Helpers

This is the most common manual labor jobs that you’ve heard of and they are the ones who run around assisting skilled construction workers. They carry tools, equipments and other materials that are needed, run errands, perform a variety of tasks like hammering, and clean up the work area at the end of each day. All these may seem small unimportant but imagine, what will be the life of those skilled construction workers be without them?

Besides that, it can be a real eye-opener as you can get an insider’s look at the construction of the buildings, bridges, roads and monuments!

What it takes: To qualify to be a construction helper, you need to have dexterity to use the tools, have excellent judgment when it comes to safety and have a high level of precision when making measurements. Most importantly, you need to have good physical strength and stamina, and at the same time, able to follow directions clearly. Good math skills, honesty, dependability and courtesy will definitely do you well.

Where the jobs are: Look for jobs like these in the Yellow Pages under “Construction”, “Carpentry”, “Plumbing”, and many other construction-related topics. Alternatively, look for Help Wanted ads in the newspaper.

What this job could lead to: With the experience that you have gained from being a construction helper, you might decide to pursue future positions like an apprentice to a special trade, which will then lead you to positions like master plumber, carpenter or whatever your field is.

Deckhands on Fishing Boats

These are entry-level positions that requires lots of learning and involves a lot of hard work. If you have always loved going fishing, this is definitely a chance for you to do it real.

As a beginner, you may be allowed to handle more responsibilities like hauling trap, operating fishing gear and etc.

What it takes: You need a lot of physical strength to qualify for this job. Besides that, as weather and water conditions can change quickly, you must possess a hunger for adventure. To ensure safety and success for a fishing venture, good teamwork is critical. Other desirable qualities for this job are mechanical aptitude, good condition skills, endurance, patience and alertness. However, if you are prone to seasickness, this is definitely not the job for you!

Where the job are: You can try your luck at places like commercial fishing companies, marine biology labs and sport fishing companies.

What this job could lead to: If everything goes well, you might end up as a captain of a fishing boat, an owner of a fishing company, or manager of a retail fishing equipment store. Other possible positions include harbor pilot, marine …

Tips To Successfully Manage Bar Inventories

Management of inventories is essential to succeed in business. Unless a businessperson keeps complete track of all the goods in his stock, he is sure to end up in loss. These inventories could be in any forms. These include materials and components, work in progress inventory and finished goods inventories. It is essential to keep a record of the inventories to ensure that no fraudulent activities take place. Inventories are to be reconciled periodically. Bar inventories are no exceptions to this rule. Where inventories with regard to bar is concerned, one should ensure that proper measures are followed to have a perfect account of the inventories so that one could have a proper planning and prevent loss.

Bar inventories management

Like in any other sensitive products, bar inventory management is also difficult. You need to take into account various factors that may be behind the failure in the reconciliation of these types of inventories such as spillage while pouring alcohol, breakage, theft and so on. As far as a bar is concerned, it is essential to tally the accounts every day to ensure that inventories are properly accounted.

Tips to manage bar inventories

Having some guidelines to manage inventories effectively may be of some use. Here are some suggestions for effective management of bar inventories.

Have a separate worksheet for your inventories. If you can have software designed for this purpose, it is all the more greater.

Include every type of bar inventories you have. Classifications always help.

It is not the just the quantity that matters: you also need to have the price included to ensure you have a perfect inventory management system.

The bar inventory list should contain the alcohol brand, the purchase and sale price per bottle and the stock available of each product.

Start your day counting your bar inventories. Do not forget to include all that are in and out of storage.

Every single bottle should be accounted and hence educate your staff on the need to save the empty bottles for counting. This also greatly helps you plan your orders for specific liquors.

Broken bottles should be included in inventories and hence you could have your staff maintain records of all broken bottles.

Check the closing stock for the day and tally it with the sales for the day. Do not forget to include broken bottles and wastages.

To ensure that there are no errors, it is suggested to instruct all the staff to maintain proper record and provide them each with a worksheet so that they would have the details included with regard to purchase and sale of liquor bottles.

Bad inventory management and fragile bar business

If the inventory is not managed properly, the business may not run smoother. Have a perfect plan to maintain your inventories and do bear in mind that inventory management is not possible without the help of the staff dealing with inventories. Hence, it would be best to entrust with each …

Substantially Comparable” in PERM Work Experience

If an employer hires an alien for a position and then later decides to start the Green Card process on the alien’s behalf there may arise problems as to establishing the employer’s actual minimum requirements. In the PERM recruitment process an employer may advertise for a position requiring a certain amount of experience that is considered normal for a position. If the alien beneficiary only qualifies for the PERM position based on experienced gained working for an employer in the same or “substantially comparable” (SC) position then a PERM petition will be denied.

In a perfect situation it would be best to not have to rely on experience gained with an employer because such a situation is a common audit trigger. But, in reality it is often necessary to use experience gained with an employer to qualify for certain visas statuses (EB-2 for example). When it is necessary that work experience gained with a petitioning employer be used for a PERM it is equally necessary to document that this experience came for a position that was substantially different than the PERM position.

Situations where experience gained from an employer is needed to be proven to be substantially different are usually cases of aliens seeking EB-2 status with a bachelor’s degree plus 5 years of post graduate experience. For alien’s seeking EB-2 status based on their Master’s degrees it is not particularly important to worry about prior experience unless a petitioning employer normally requires experience on top of an advanced degree.

Actual Minimum Requirements

A major component of DOL review in the PERM process is determining an employer’s actual minimum requirements for a job. Essentially this concerns whether or not an employer has hired people with less experience/education for a position than what is being advertised and listed on ETA Form 9089. If an alien only meets an employer’s listed minimum requirements due to experience gained while working for that same employer in the same or similar position then DOL will question the employer’s actual minimum requirements.

In order for a PERM process to be in good faith it must be actually open to US applicants and not tailored to the specific qualifications of the alien beneficiary. Imagine that an employer hires an alien for the position of entry level secretary (requiring no experience) and then 5 years later files a PERM for the alien for a job that is the exact same as an entry level secretary. But, for the PERM position the employer requires applicants to have 5 years of experience. Since the employer hired the alien for the same position 5 years ago with no experience it is not justifiable to require 5 years of experience if the employer has hired people with less experience in the past. In this case the DOL will not see that a position is truly open to US applicants and will judge it to be tailored to the alien’s qualifications. In reality the employer has had …

She’s Having Contractions, When Should She Go To The Hospital?

One of the most exciting times during a pregnancy is when the baby is about to come. Your heart is pounding and your mind is racing. If it is your first child you might not know what you are in for. If you went to Lamaze Class you might have some insight into what is going on. Lamaze class does try to prepare you for what is about to happen. In class you will learn what to look for when you are trying to determine whether your wife or girlfriend is in labor. However, what if you didn’t go to Lamaze Class or you forgot what you learned? You might be thinking that you as the father don’t need to know the signs. After all who better to know than your wife or girlfriend? The truth is that whatever overwhelming emotions and excitement you are experiencing, she is probably experiencing them time three. It will be up to you to think clearly and logically.

So, is the mother of my child going into labor? There are a few signs to look for when determining whether she is going into labor. Of course the most obvious sign that she is going into labor is that she is having contractions. Or is it? When she is having contractions it is important to determine whether they are labor contractions or Braxton Hicks Contractions, also known as false labor contractions. The key is to keep track of the contractions and time them you can write them down, use stop watches, or even download a smart phone app that keeps track of contractions. You must determine whether the duration of the contractions is growing and whether the span between the contractions is shortening. This is a clue as to whether she is truly in labor. If the contractions are random and do not seem to be getting longer and the span between them is not shortening, she is probably not in labor. Another sign is that the actual labor contractions will get more intense and painful.

Another sign that your wife or girlfriend may be in labor is if she starts to have an increase production of mucus. This discharge is usually accompanied with red streaks that are sometimes called “show.” The other undisputable sign that she is in labor is if her water breaks. If her water breaks it is time for her to go directly to the hospital.

One question that is asked is when she should go to the hospital. The answer to this question depends on what signs she is showing. If her water breaks it is time to go. Otherwise it is a matter of timing. You should time her contractions. Keep track of how long the contractions are, and the time in between them. Once the contractions last for 60 seconds are less than five minutes apart, and these averages go on for more than an hour. These are …

Warehouse Space For Rent – Learn How to Save Time and Money by Making the Right Rental Decision

Looking for the right rental property is a rite of passage for many businesses. Most discover that they can save time and capital by warehouse renting rather than purchasing their building. However, selecting the best site for a rental can be a difficult decision. More than one business has found itself stuck with steep fees and inadequate space because they didn’t ask the right questions first. But finding the perfect warehouse space to rent doesn’t have to be a painful experience. Read on for more details…

The first step before even starting to browse the available units is to know what you need. How are you going to use this space? Do you just need a big, empty room. Will the landlord pay for the utilities? If you are doing work in the warehouse, you’ll want to look at electrical outlets, restrooms and the ability to maintain a constant temperature.

Then, you need to consider the amount of space you need. You can find small storage units available for a flat monthly fee, but most warehouse rental agreements charge by the square foot. Some rental agreements dictate that the landlord pays for utilities and other property-related expenses, while other leases require the renter to pay for these expenses. When shopping around for the right size unit, also be sure to ask if you can easily upgrade to a larger facility or if the lease will lock you into that space for a certain time frame.

Once you have determined your space criteria and the necessary amenities for your business, it is time to start looking at the available sites. You can search online for available warehouse space to rent or speak with a local, commercial real estate agent.

As you tour the potential sites, consider your shipment needs. If you will just be storing products for an extended period of time, a location off the beaten track might be fine. However, if you expect weekly deliveries, look for a location near an expressway or seaport. Also determine how you’ll need to access the warehouse. For example, if you’ll be receiving truck deliveries, a truck delivery door will be essential.

When you think you have found the right warehouse for rent, talk to the landlord or property manager before signing any agreement. Learn exactly what the owner will provide and what your responsibilities are as a tenant. Be sure to ask about any local zoning or municipal ordinance requirements. If the property manager can’t give you a definitive answer, check with the local government. Nothing is worse than signing a contact to lease a warehouse, only to learn later that your expected use is not allowed per the local zoning requirements.

Finally, when choosing the right warehouse space for rent., always insure your equipment or any goods that will be stored at the location. In case of a fire or other disaster, your …

Self Induce Labor Safely and Naturally

Forty weeks have gone by and you have been waiting for this moment for what feels like an eternity. You are bigger than you ever imagined possible, you have been feeling the Braxton Hicks contractions and your bag is packed. Any minute now you will be heading off to the hospital, you think. But… nothing.

If your induction date is fast approaching and you really don’t want to go down that route then here are some alternative methods to self induce labor safely and naturally.

Nipple stimulation by gently rubbing or rolling the nipple is said to encourage the start of contractions. The theory behind this is that oxytocin, the hormone responsible for contractions, is released in the body when the breasts are stimulated.

A review by Kavanagh et al in 2005 found significant benefit from nipple stimulation in women whose cervix had already started to ripen and 37% of women who tried it went into labour within 72 hours as compared to just 6 per cent of those who had not.

Castor oil acts as a powerful laxative. It also stimulate the digestive system and the uterus and so aids in inducing labor. However it is not recommended by midwives because of its side effects of diarrhoea leading to dehydration. The study carried out by Garry et al in 2000 of 100 overdue women found that 57.7 per cent began active labour after a single dose of 60ml of castor oil, as opposed to 4.2 per cent who received no treatment. No adverse affects on mother or baby were reported but all the women who took it felt nauseous.

Sex and orgasms can trigger the release of oxytocin and stimulate the induction of labor. Semen contains a high concentration of prostaglandins which help to ripen the cervix. Sex is safe as long as your waters have not broken. If your water as broken having sex may increase the risk of infection. There is no concrete evidence that sex works to induce labor however it will forge a strong bond between the couple.

Acupressure stimulates certain points in the body to trigger uterine contractions and encourage the babies head to descend and engage. It is used as a very powerful and effective tool in relieving labor pain and morning sickness. There have not been any studies showing any adverse effects on mother or baby. A recent study tested labor acupressure on a group of women who were near or past their due date, and used a control group of women in a similar condition who were not given acupressure. (Complement Ther Med. 2005). The results showed that women in the acupressure group went into labor naturally and significantly more often than the women in the control group who not using any acupressure techniques.

Another study showed that stimulation of one single pain relieving pressure point was enough to remarkably reduce labor pains (J Altern Complement Med. 2004). The study also showed that the total …

How To Tell If Your Significant Other Is Cheating On You

There are plenty of happy marriages out there and plenty of couples who would never dream of cheating on one another. They are perfectly pleased with the path their relationship is on and they believe the vows they took during their wedding ceremony were meaningful and true. Others may not be happy in their marriages, but instead of looking for happiness outside of the marriage while the marriage is still legally intact, they are honest with their spouse and work toward a mutual solution. However, these scenarios are not always the route people choose to take. If you suspect there may be a problem in your marriage and your spouse may be seeing someone else, there are things you can look for. Consider whether all of their belongings are kept at your home or if they are using a Texas contract warehouse or California contract warehouse to keep stuff off site. Ask yourself if they could be hiding another life from you that you are not a part of.

If your significant other seems to be keeping secrets, consider a few things before jumping to conclusions. Ask yourself if there is a big event in the near future they may be planning a surprise for. The last thing you want to do is accuse them of cheating on you if they are sneaking around planning a surprise party for you. If you suspect something is up and you are worried things may be going south, confide in a close friend. Chances are; they will know if something special is being planned. They can reassure you without giving away the surprise and your spouse will never about your insecurities. However, if things seem off and your spouse is being sneaky over a long period of time and no surprise ever materializes, you may have cause for concern.

Has your significant other had a sudden change in work schedule? This often happens and is perfectly legitimate. If your significant other works in a field where there are shift changes, there are plenty of reasons why the change may occur. However, if your spouse’s job is typically a 9-5 office job and they suddenly start working until 10 pm or 11 pm each night, there may be something going on.

Have you noticed a change in your relationship? If you were always affectionate and that suddenly stops, you may be dealing with a serious issue. If your spouse is getting intimacy elsewhere, they are less likely to need it while they are at home. On the other hand, you may also notice an increase in bedroom antics. The intimacy may not be there and you may feel uncomfortable with how things work out, but you may notice your spouse is more amorous. This is especially true at the beginning of an affair, so if you think a problem may be about to start, you may want to start communicating with them about …

How to Improve Labour Productivity in Iron and Steelmaking Operations

Introduction

Whilst the biggest variable costs for most iron and steel plants include raw materials and energy, the biggest components of fixed cost generally include labour cost. This is especially so in the developed world where a typical blue-collar salary can come to $25,000 per year or more. In this article, the author discusses a number of different approaches to reducing labour costs through emphasis on productivity improvement.

Productivity Differences in the Industry

Whilst some differences in productivity are always evident in different steelmaking processes, very large differences are also often apparent when looking at nearly identical plants. This is especially so if comparisons are made between state-owned and privately owned steel businesses. A typical modern European integrated flat rolled steel plant producing 2.5 millions tonnes of flat products can today be expected to employ around 3000 people. A plant of the same size in some parts of Eastern Europe can at the same time employ ten or even twelve thousand people. It should be stressed that some of this productivity difference is not real, because the comparison is not strictly fair. Quite commonly,

the high productivity plant may be outsourcing many services (e.g. transport services, IT, canteen operations)

the low productivity plant may be providing social or welfare-related activities (e.g. offering hospital or recreational facilities).

However, much of the productivity difference discussed above often is very real and arises because of differences in organizational structure, so that – even on a like for like basis – a three-fold difference in productivity can still be apparent. Low hourly labour costs in many countries do of course mean that poor productivity is not always as problematic as it might at first seem. Nonetheless, as business profitability falls or other performance pressures come about (e.g. changes of ownership, as for example through privatization) so the question arises as to how productivity might significantly be improved.

Lessons from the Past

Lessons from restructuring of state-owned companies such as British Steel are instructive. In the case of the UK steel maker, productivity improvement (beyond that relating to modernization and the introduction of new technology) was achieved in two ways:

First, organizational structure was streamlined by the removal of organizational layers. Why have seven or eight organizational layers when four or five will do? Reduction in the size of the employment pyramid is the key technique here. Firms such as Nucor in the USA (which has just four organizational layers from CEO level down to shop floor level) have applied this very successfully

Second, job flexibility was introduced. The point here is not to have separate teams of utility workers specialised in maintenance of gas, electricity and water services – when a single (better trained) team might be sufficient. Such job flexibility applies not just to utilities; but also to engineering (civil, mechanical, etc), maintenance (iron making, steel making, rolling), transport etc – and can similarly lead to a major reduction in total employment.

Plans …

Choosing The Right West Coast Vacation Destination

Anyone who has ever traveled to the West Coast knows there are vacation options for just about everyone. Those who have never been can choose from several cities and small towns that offer great local dining, accommodations in all price ranges, indoor and outdoor activities, and local flavor not found anywhere else. One of the most popular destinations on the coast is southern California. Those headed to the region can enjoy stops in LA, Hollywood, Temecula and LA. Hollywood is probably one of the first places you think of when considering this part of the country. Everyone should experience the contrast of silver screen actors and the local residents of affluent Beverly Hills. You will have an opportunity to enjoy the entire city while there, driving past a contract warehouse or a 3 PL. When you are finished in LA, head south to San Diego, a seaside town with charm and plenty to do.

Further north up the coast, visitors to California will enjoy visiting the city of San Francisco. Nothing like the southern part of the state, San Francisco is a combination of free and artistic thinking, blended with the charm of a sea-fairing community. Visitors to San Francisco will love sailing around Alcatraz, whale watching, and then enjoying a delicious seafood dinner. Strolling along the docks in San Francisco is a great way to spend a few hours in the city.

Offering a blend of southern and northern California charm, the Napa Valley is the destination for those who love wine and want a quiet, romantic getaway. The area is filled with bed and breakfast establishments that offer personalized accommodations in a quaint surrounding. Visitors to the Napa Valley can tour wineries and enjoy wine tastings, dine at some of the finest restaurants in the country, and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities through the California countryside.

Heading further north, visitors to the West Coast will want to make a stop in Portland. This city continues to grow and while there are more cosmopolitan options, few offer the character and quirkiness of Portland. The city is home to a variety of restaurants and galleries. Portland prides itself on being at the forefront of the environmental movement and in addition to spending time in the outdoors, many of the hotels and other establishments in the city do what they can to stay green.

Far from your final option on the West Coast, the Pacific Northwest town of Seattle grows in vacation popularity every year. The most popular attraction in Seattle is probably the public market, where locals and tourists enjoy the fish throwing show that happens all day. The market is filled with dining and retail shopping options and visitors can barely walk five steps without running into a gourmet coffee shop. Seattle has a thriving art scene and those headed to the city should plan to spend a few hours browsing galleries and shops for handcrafted items created by local artisans. …

Save Money and Improve Business Production by Outsourcing These Services

Running a successful distributorship can be a challenge in many ways when a businessman attempts to provide all aspects of the company functions by himself. There can be a financial drain of resources and also a huge waste of energies that could better be spent on marketing efforts for increasing sales and providing company name recognition. In the Texas area, a Houston public warehouse can be found by just opening the phone book or going online and conducting a search. There are many satisfied customers who employ a Houston 3PL (third party logistics provider) as a means of outsourcing part or all of their supply chain management functions. Some of the services provided include, but are not limited to, assembly, packaging, shrink wrapping if needed, and labeling of products. Outsourcing in this way can also save money by providing a “one stop shop” type of operation for the business. They can provide packaging and transportation support to manufacturers, retailers, distributors, importers and even other shippers. So the scope of influence in employing this type of service is far reaching and has quite elaborate benefits to the company who requests it.

There are several other popular ways to outsource company functions that can also provide cost savings to a company. Just a few of these are:

o Human Resource Functions: Many companies are now using private firms who specialize in the functions of a human resources department thus eliminating the need for the company to invest money in maintaining their own. These private firms will come on an as needed basis and perform duties such as hiring and firing employees, introducing and establishing company policies, and providing training to employees.

o Payroll Processing: Outsourcing payroll has become an accepted way of eliminating that department from the company and allowing the job of payroll to be handled by a private provider. Most of these companies give outstanding service and offer the means of tracking money earned, along with deductions taken, on the web for employees to check as they wish.

o Legal Representation: Legal work and representation has long been recognized as a logical candidate for company outsourcing. Maintaining a legal department in-house is very expensive and attorney services are not needed on an every day basis but rather required on an “as needed” basis. Contracting with a legal firm makes good business sense and provides professionals who are top notch in their field when needed. Most of these firms charge a retainer fee and then will bill companies by the hour when they are working on company business. The firm where the attorney is employed will then send a statement out each month detailing the services provided to the contracting company.

o Advertising and Marketing Agencies: These are two areas of expertise that can be readily available and can save a company huge amounts of money when employed on a contractual basis. Both of these services focus on areas such as …

Keeping your business operating smoothly often requires that you utilize a broad range of different programs in your operation. For instance, Microsoft Dynamics is a high-quality program that can create a broad range of benefits that go far beyond what other programs of this type may offer.

This program has become one of the most trusted and beneficial ways of streamlining business and operating more smoothly and effectively. Individuals interested in this program need to make sure that they understand how it can help with their sales and make their business that much more successful.

Ways Dynamics Can Help With Sales

Dynamics was designed by Microsoft to be a diverse platform that can be used with just about any business model. Over the years, they have tweaked up their approach to include a broad array of different benefits that take this platform just a few steps beyond what others may offer.

Therefore, it is important to understand how Dynamics can help with your sales and make your business more successful. Understanding these facets can help to ensure that you get the best experience possible for your needs. Just a few benefits of this process include:

• Track Your Sales More Easily – If you’re struggling with knowing where your sales come and go on your platform, Dynamics can help by making it easier for you to know where your sales went, who purchased what, and how much money you earned with each sale that you make in this process.
• Gauge Customer Engagement – Your customers are critical for the operation of your business. Without their satisfaction, you’re going to quickly find yourself experiencing some real struggles with the operation. Use Dynamics to track customer complaints, needs, and sales demands at the same time.
• Boost Product Management Needs – Keeping your products in stock is important for your business operation, as running out may find you struggling to meet your customers’ needs. Thankfully, Dynamics helps by providing a streamlined inventory management tool.
• Prevent Mistakes With Sales – When you make a mistake with your sales, you put your business team in a series of situations that may require professionals to properly manage. Make sure that you use Dynamics to minimize these mistakes and keep your company safe and secure.
• Helps With Team Management – Dynamics makes it easier to track your sales team and ensure that they are on the right path towards success, ensuring that you get the best chances of success.

So if you’re operating a business that relies heavily on sales, it is important to integrate Dynamics into your operation. This software not only helps with sales but can also provide a myriad of other advantages, such as a simpler customer relations platform that can provide easier communication.

The businesses that can thrive in this situation include sales-based companies that rely on commissions, high-quality utility businesses, and manufacturers who need to keep their business running smoothly. Make sure to reach out to a professional who can help you understand …

You know you want to hire a virtual assistant. You’ve done your research, and you know that hiring a virtual assistant can make your company’s most complex challenges disappear.

You also know stress can become chronic when you have too much to do. With that in mind, keep reading for a better understanding of how virtual assistants can make your life easier.

What skills does a virtual assistant have?

From printing and copying to data entry, administrative tasks can cause even the most skilled employers to lose morale. Fortunately, virtual assistants not only have administrative work skills, but they’re also fast and knowledgeable. They’ll likely have:
• Excellent typing skills
• Strong communication skills
• Strong writing skills
• Experience with productivity software, and,
• Social media marketing skills

The benefit rests in the expertise. The advantage lies in what gets done.

Calendar management keeps your team together

Having too many unproductive meetings can make learning difficult for your team. For work meetings, productivity may mean active, engaging discussion on pertinent topics. Sometimes, employees have other responsibilities taking place outside the office. Scheduling can get mixed up, so you may want to consider the benefits of delegating scheduling tasks.

According to an MIT study on work meetings, improved quality is the only way to justify meeting costs. But doing so would require additional training. Fortunately, a virtual assistant can ensure your schedule remains up-to-date, giving you time to focus more on training your employees.

Accounting done right

Not everyone can ensure accurate bookkeeping. A virtual assistant can help you stay on track with what’s borrowed and loaned and what profits your business has lost.

Remember, prolonged focus on complex tasks can damage your employee’s mental health. Over time, a company can fall apart as employees lose morale. Keeping your business moving may mean finding a virtual assistant with a skill set that fits your needs.

Streamline the intake process

A virtual assistant can distribute questionnaires or surveys. In some cases, a friendly virtual assistant might assist clients as they complete onboarding paperwork.

Wouldn’t you like the chance to take an extra break now and then? Even productivity experts like Bill Gates know that meditation is essential to success. Without clients, your business wouldn’t run, so why not let someone else do the work?

Cut costs by minimizing outsourcing

Hiring multiple freelancers can be beneficial when your marketing strategy is diverse. But most companies want someone who can do it all.

Have you considered what projects a virtual assistant could complete? Think about your business needs and consider putting together a SWOT analysis.

What are your company’s strengths, and how could a virtual assistant bring them to light?  Are your employers getting frustrated because responsibilities are unclear? If you’re unsure, hiring a virtual assistant might make a bad day better.

Want to hire multiple freelancers, manage schedules, and set up appointments every day? If not, know that your business deserves efficiency, so request a quote to get a virtual …

Compensation to Be Defined by Economic Concepts

Human resources are allocated to certain uses that contribute to production. This is the reason why a company pays the employee a certain price for the provided labor. This relationship is based on economics and implies that the said price is governed by the logic that you are making a purchase. As any purchase, one looks for value for money. A company will seek to benefit from the largest quantity of labor at its optimum best. Similarly, the service provider or the employee will seek the highest rate that he can get; after all, it is his hard work and skill. In sort, this is about buying and selling in order to improve production or profit. However, there is a huge difference in the way the market prices labor and other products. Labor has a short shelf life; that is, labor has a sense of immediacy as it may not be available on the following day. This does not mean human beings are not going to be available; but that the particular service that is required may not be available. Another factor is that the labor cannot have a fixed value. It varies according to the labor force itself – from person to person. It also varies with the ability or skill levels. Since, we are talking about human beings, it is not possible to expect or receive the same level of skill or ability from minute to minute. This can either be advantageous or disadvantageous for the employer.

The advantage is that one can work on improving the quality of the labor as it is a variable. This can also enable the employer to vary his own demands as per the need of the hour. The disadvantage is that the employer cannot fix a particular price and remain inflexible about it. As much as there is a variability of his demands and the labor’s supply, the price also becomes a variable. Moreover, it cannot be fixed in advance. The best an employer can do is make a estimate of how much value he places on the potential labor he will receive. This also affects how the labor supplier rates himself. It is not possible that everyone with similar qualifications or experience is paid the same price. He can only ask for the market rate at that time and should be flexible. Thus, the labor supplier can go with a general range for his level of expertise.

This aspect of variability is reason enough to accept that compensation decisions must consider the economic concept seriously.…

Child Labor Issues a World Wide Problem and Challenge We Must Conquer

Using children as slave labor is a real problem in the world, and it’s been going on in many human societies and cultures for far too long. Yes, in ancient times everyone had to pitch in, but now those who run businesses are collecting these kids and making them work 14-20 plus hours per day. This of course is unacceptable in Western culture, but it still goes on in very poor and emerging nations all over the globe.

Not long ago, an individual who grew up in Pakistan and I were discussing online the challenges of child labor abuse worldwide. I agreed and said that the child labor issues are problematic all over the world, it’s just been going on for generations now, it’s a real challenge; “what do you suggest there?” I asked. This individual is living and working in Dubai now, but he noted that there were problems back in Pakistan with child labor abuses.

He offered a relevant suggestion and stated; “On Child Labor issues, Yes you are right it is a real challenge. I’ve a suggestion that may improve specially in Asia and Africa. If the government or the outside donors agencies work collectively and come up with some educational plan for their families make the education free for them and announce a monthly cash awards for the parents who educate and send their children to schools regardless of the sect.”

Indeed, that would work alright and in Africa, yes the problems are huge, and such a solution might prevent the kids from joining those bands of guerrilla militia with machine guns too. Humans around the planet need to agree to a least a minimum of rules and human rights. This would be a very good place to start.

If you have any comments or questions on child labor abuses, or first-hand experience of what you’ve seen in this arena, then please shoot me an email. Let’s talk and compare notes. Please consider all this and think on it.…

Informatica Training – What Is Informatica?

Informatica is something that you may have heard of before or maybe have not. However, if you have not heard of it you are truly missing out on this great bit of knowledge. Informatica is a software which allows the user to create a data warehouse with ease. It makes the process of designing, ETL and maintaining the data warehouse a breeze as well. Informatica training brings a new, simple approach to the term “Data warehousing.”

Informatica training: What is data warehousing?

The use of data warehousing is an innovative way for a business to lower their operating costs, raise the production rates and push their sales through the door by using the management of information. It allows for the support of intelligence through the business, management of the relationship with the customer plus lots of other beneficial business uses.

Informatica training: How can Informatica help with data warehousing?

Data warehousing is not always the simplest of tasks especially when it comes around to accountability however, Informatica consists of an easy to use interface that allows you to create and control your warehouse effectively leaving, next to no room for the possibility of error. The bulk of the warehouse design is done by performing simple click and drag methods. This method, allows you to easily comprehend the tasks which you are performing. Informatica also has a unique ability to connect with any other major database that exists. This means that information is easily transported in between each of the databases including, the large volume information files.

Informatica has the ability to do this by performing throttle tasks or, performing huge tasks broken into smaller ones so as not to bog down the log. This is all done in a very effective yet secure way. Additionally, thanks to the server which is used by Informatica and a plug in server manager application, you are able to connect tables from any other server or database in existence. This in turn, helps you to effectively create, run and manage your data warehouse without frustration.

Informatica training: How does the software work?

The design is created in the designer portion of the program. It clues you into where you will put the tables and sources, what the specific targets which you will have are as well as how you should go about moving the information. With Informatica, you get your own repository manager which helps you to maintain the repository portion of the program. The repository is the database which is used by Informatica in order to keep track of all the data which is stored there for use.

Informatica training: What do I get with Informatica?

You have several different options when it comes to Informatica. This includes a number of varied packages and extras that are available. The Informatica Power Center allows you access to every option available which includes meta data. With this, you are able to keep all of your repositories in one place …

Being in Labor: Get the Facts About Epidurals

Let’s jump right into the questions that many women have about labor epidurals.

Will an epidural slow the progress of my labor?

As of this writing, much of the evidence does not find this to be true. Epidurals have not been found to slow the progress of the first stage of labor. This is defined as the period of regular contractions and cervical dilation, that ends when the cervix is fully dilated. The second stage of labor has been found to be about 15 minutes longer in women with epidurals. This is the “pushing” stage that begins with full cervical dilation and ends with the delivery of the baby.

Will an epidural increase the chances of a forceps delivery or make me more likely to have to deliver via C/S?

The literature has also NOT found this to be true.

Epidurals have also been found to be the most effective method for pain relief during labor. This view is shared by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. With an epidural in place, the mother requires significantly less, or no, IV pain medicine. Babies tend to be born less drowsy in these cases.

How about any adverse effects?

Epidurals are associated with a slight temperature increase for the mother. It’s important to note that they are NOT associated with increased rates of infection, for the mom or the baby. There are several reasons why this temperature increase happens with an epidural, but this is not an infection.

Epidurals cause a sympathectomy, which can result in a drop in blood pressure. Your blood pressure will be monitored regularly once an epidural is placed, and your anesthesiologist will treat any unsafe decrease.

Epidurals can be associated with a specific kind of headache, called a post dural puncture headache. This occurs about 1% of the time. The headache worsens on standing and gets more tolerable when lying flat. Treatment includes hydration, caffeine, and an epidural blood patch.

Another great fear is that of nerve damage. Many women are afraid of becoming permanently paralyzed from the epidural. Data tells us that nerve injuries related to epidurals occur somewhere between 0.08% and 0.92% of the time. The symptoms usually last less than two months and there is complete recovery in almost all cases. While you can never say the risk is zero, it is extremely rare to have any permanent nerve damage from epidurals.

There is, unfortunately, also a chance that the epidural may not work as well as we’d like. Your anesthesiologist will troubleshoot the epidural and may offer to replace it. Some things that make epidural placement more difficult include: scoliosis, a history of lower back surgery, and obesity.

Hopefully, this information has given you a better understanding of labor epidurals. Your anesthesiologist will review your medical history and, if you are a candidate for an epidural, will talk to you about the risks, benefits, and alternatives.

Armed with this information, you will be able …

Strategies for Reducing Warehouse Costs

Over the past decade as labor rates have increased an average of $5.50 to $10.50 per direct labor hour and orders processed per full-time warehouse worker have remained flat, the dollars of sales processed per warehouse sq. ft. have declined and the $64,000 question on many business owners’ minds is how to boost warehouse productivity. Here are some tips to make your warehouse more productive.

Start with a warehouse audit to measure your current warehouse productivity and other patterns and trends. An audit enables you to do internal and external comparisons. With the data you gather from this comparison, you can devise an action plan for improvement. Some companies opt to contract with an independent third party to conduct an audit for an unbiased opinion. Use your audit to evaluate your operation against a set of internal expectations and external, industry recognized practices. Measuring labor, facilities, systems and workflow procedures allows you to see the current state of your warehouse so you can set realistic goals and the course of action you want to take to accomplish them.

The goal of any warehouse should be to boost the amount of products stored. Powered conveyor placement, multilevel order-picking, mezzanines and racking should be configured to increase your facility’s efficiency. Adequately utilizing your cubic space is crucial. Use a warehouse management system that supports the min-max and demand-replenishment concepts. There’s nothing more inefficient in a warehouse than an insufficient amount of product when a picker needs it. Maximize unit movement in pick slots by storing at least one week’s average unit movement in areas you designate as hot pick areas for products that move quickly. This will reduce a picker’s time spent walking around looking for products in the warehouse. Bar code technology is a tremendous help when it comes to tracking products and orders and verifying accuracy. By developing an ROI study, bar codes can help to show where potential savings can be gained.

A clean warehouse is an efficiently run warehouse. You can tell a lot about a warehouse from its overall organization and appearance. Warehouse facilities should be designed to maximize flexibility, being as scalable as possible. Everyday merchants change the product profiles they offer. Underestimating future inventory levels can impede operations. Be sure to allocate space for future expansions. A warehouse inventory system that tells you where products are stored in each location and how much of the product is available in each location is essential to warehouse efficiency. Investing in an efficient stock-locator system can save you time and money.

Successful warehouses have devised vendor-compliance programs that define any expectations or specifications they require of every vendor. When vendors fail to comply, shipalones may have to be repacked and result in an increase to your labor costs, vendor bar code labels may not be reusable or readable resulting in an increase to your labor costs or improperly packaged products could actually damage your warehouse. When metrics are used to measure your workers’ …

Why Pallet Flow Racking Solutions For Your Industrial Storage Will Help You

Pallet flow racking solutions for your industrial storage will help you a great deal. To understand this let us take a look at some things. We will first re-examine what a pallet is. We will then re-examine how they are moved and worked with around the warehouse. After we do that it serves as good point to display the major problem that is created by not using these solutions. As we reach closer to the close we will look at the advantages these systems offer. Things like load volume, accessibility and how effectively these systems maximize space utilization will all be covered more in-depth.

As a reader considering these solutions you should be reminded what a pallet is so you know exactly what we are trying to mass store. Believe it or not some people own warehouses and do not know this. Pallets are small square wooden bases that products are stacked onto and then wrapped for storage. Some companies paint pallets for identification purposes. The middle of the pallet is hollow so that different machines can move it.

Several machines are typical in a warehouse environment for moving pallets about. The first is a fork lift. These are usually only used when the pallet is stored above ground level. You will see how this come in handy with racking solutions soon. The pallet jack moves the pallet at ground level. It has wheels and can easily allow a pallet to be pulled around a location.

This is the part where you start to see how pallet flow racking solutions for your industrial storage will help you. Before them the warehouse was usually very crowded. Before the rack and shelving solutions pallets were just dumped at ground level. Since this was the only level at which they could be stored space typically went quick.

You might be wondering just what these types of storage solutions are. They simply provide a solution that lines the walls of the warehouse with row after row or large shelves and racks. They are designed to support the weight of pallets. The volume load can be quite high allowing an extremely large amount of pallets to be stored. The heaviest possible weight loads are typically supported.

The feature of providing easy access is typically provided by these types of storage units. The rows are designed and spaced so that fork lift operators tend to have to problem accessing the areas they need to access. If a unit is particularly tall, ramps can be designed for the forklift operator to simply drive onto in order to get what he needs.

The best possible space utilization is often achieved through these types of systems. Around the warehouse this is a great benefit. With the very tall units many pallets are stored in a very small amount of space. Very large amounts of ground space are then made free as a result. It then becomes very …

Why Natural Labor Induction? Facts That You Should Know

So you have been patiently waiting for forty long weeks to welcome your bundle of joy into the world; your estimated date of delivery came with anticipation – but so far, no baby has made an appearance.  You likely are beginning to wonder if you’ll be pregnant forever and likely worried that your OB will want to induce your labor – which you have heard is dangerous not only for you, but for your baby as well.

You do have options, however. There are natural labor induction methods that can help you bring on labor without invasive medical labor induction that can take away from the experience and possibly harm your baby.

Facts About Medical Labor Induction

Medical induction of labor may be necessary in some rare, emergency situations – but it is important to keep in mind that your body was designed to deliver the baby that you are carrying – and women have been having babies for thousands of years.  Medical induction wasn’t an option for women two hundred years ago – and none of us would be here today if our ancestors couldn’t give birth.  With that in mind, you must be confident in your body’s ability to do what it was designed to do during pregnancy – without the need for medical labor induction whenever possible.  Medical labor induction can be very dangerous. Let’s look first at the drugs that are used in labor induction, which are synthetic forms of hormones that occur naturally in the body.

Pitocin Used To Induce Labor

Pitocin is the most often used drug for inducing labor at the hospital and works by causing extremely intense and painful contractions. Pitocin is usually administered intravenously. The side effects of Pitocin including cramping, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.  Mothers whose labors are induced using Pitocin often report irregular heartbeats, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, and swelling.  Some women who are induced with Pitocin develop severe bleeding after childbirth.  The effects for the baby delivered after an induction with Pitocin include irregular heartbeat, bleeding in the eyes, jaundice of the eyes, and seizure.

Cervidil – Another Pharmaceutical Used For Inducing Labor at the Hospital

Cervidil, also known as dinoprostone or prostin E2 are synthetic forms of prostaglandins that come in suppository form.  Once Cervidil suppositories have been inserted, the mother must lay down for a minimum of two hours, which restricts the common movements that help speed along childbirth, like walking.  Many women report finding it difficult to breathe after being administered Cervidil, and complain of tightness in the chest, dizziness, fever, chills, lightheadedness, and diarrhea.

Natural Ways to Induce Labor

Many natural ways to induce labor work more effectively to start the process of childbirth, without the potential negative side effects that are oftentimes experienced with medical labor induction. One of the most popular natural labor inductions is a holistic method known as maternity acupressure.

Maternity acupressure relies on differing amounts of pressure applied to …

Things to Consider When Creating a Layout for a Warehouse Design

In each and every business, warehouses play an important part specifically in a wholesale business. If you’re drained of space, pricing is excessive, productivity is poor, processes aren’t working and you’ve got a disorganized warehouse you’ll be not able to make use of it effectively because mainly you aren’t fully taking advantage of its full space. Warehouses would be the facilities that are utilized to give a proper atmosphere and shelter with regards to storing goods and items in large quantities. Warehouses are made to accommodate the different types of materials, receiving and shipping procedures and connected trucking. Before creating a warehouse design, you need to follow some recommendations. You need to define objectives, collect information, analysis, create plan and lastly implement the plan.

When determining the warehouse design, you need to first have obvious objectives. You ought to determine the disadvantages and what enhancements do you want in the new warehouse. Then you definitely should collect authentic details about the suggested layout style of the warehouse after which do analysis on that. After carrying this out, an agenda ought to be adapted concerning the implementation from the project. The next thing is implementation itself.

The appearance of warehouse space ought to be planned to best accommodate wholesale business service needs and also the items to be handled. Whenever your warehouse capacity reaches its maximum capacity and charges are increasing while service levels aren’t being met, then it is quite natural that you’ll require a larger and better warehouse.

While creating a warehouse for wholesale business, current and future needs ought to be considered because warehouse creating cannot be repeated over and over again. The location of the warehouse should be appropriate for the type of business that one has. It should also be okay for expansion so that the business does not need to find another location it case it needs to expand its stocks and supplies.

And lastly, the warehouse ought to be durable and functional. It should be able to accommodate lots of supplies so that it will be able to help the business in storing their stocks and items. The cost of the production of the warehouse should not be too high. The business owner should make sure that the prices will not be too high. Supervision and management of the business owner is very much needed especially when it comes to spending and procurement.

A warehouse is a vital part of a business that deals with stocks and supplies. If the warehouse is a failure, it will also affect the entire procedures of the business making it possible to fail. This is what a business owner would like to avoid especially if the business is just new. As much as possible, profits are what the business is after and not too much expenses. The right design and layout of the warehouse is needed to achieve smooth operations for the business. If the perfect warehouse …