Alternative medicine is nothing new; in fact, archaeologists have found traces of medicinal plants dating back as far as 60,000 years ago! If you are an entrepreneur and would like to help people use private label supplements to improve their health and wellness, be informed about your new venture.
Decide on the Target Audience
What kind of vitamin shop would you like to open? Keep your target audience in mind. Think about who you are selling for and stock products accordingly. You might also look into private label dropship for a more convenient way of ordering stock.
If athletes are your key demographic, some logical products would be things like protein powders, calcium, zinc and antioxidants. You might also stock more than vitamins and carry products like ACE bandages, slings and ointment.
Elderly people’s bones are more brittle as they age, so proper nutrition and the right supplements are important in their daily lives. Some of these might include vitamin B12 for proper digestion; calcium for bone and joint strength; and vitamin D for energy.
What about a medicinal marijuana or CBD store for patients of chronic illness or pain? Since marijuana is still federally illegal in the United States, know the laws in your area before considering this kind of store.
Photo Source: en.wikipedia.org
Product and Inventory
Remember this rule of thumb when beginning any retail business: do not sell anything that you, yourself, would not use. That being said, do not buy a stock of product simply because it’s cheap. Understand what you are buying, how it is manufactured, and if it is FDA and GMP-certified. If you would not be comfortable putting one of your own products into your body, it’s bad business to try and sell it to customers. Contact several vendors and have a list of questions ready to go beforehand. Some questions to ask might be:
What are your safety standards for your supplements? How do you process and manufacture them? What certifications can you show me and are you able to produce a liability insurance certificate?
What is the price? My payment terms? Are you firm on your price or is there wiggle room?
How long have you been in business? How long have you been producing this product? May I have references?
Insurance and Liability
You don’t want to be held responsible for someone who misuses your products and tries to sue you. Cover yourself and your company by knowing the laws and legalities and by investing in insurance.
Find an insurance company that specializes in business law. Ask questions, understand the process inside and out, and purchase a plan that works best for you and your situation.
Speak to an attorney if you have questions about your legal rights, as well as what customers can and cannot use against you in a potential lawsuit.
Financing and Taxes
Starting any business requires money, so have a plan as to where that money will come from. Remember that you will be filing business taxes from here on out, so consult your accountant or financial advisor for the best tips on how to do that.
Contact banks for taking out a business loan. This process can be a bit complex, so again, speak to your financial consultant before doing so.
Open a business bank account. This will keep your personal money separate from your business funds and will make tax season much easier.
Save and document ALL spending. This can be simplified by using spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel, or for a free version you can also use Google Sheets.
As more studies are done and scientific research validates the good in daily vitamins and supplements, natural remedies are becoming increasingly popular in the United States. Know what you are selling, be educated on the products and be cautious when advising consumers.
With several dental secrets floating around the internet, there has been a rise in the number of cheap dental implant providers in London and other locations up and down the UK which are becoming more and more popular. This is due to the amazing results that they provide at a significantly lower cost. Here we are going to look at some of the other well-kept secrets that you need to know before your next visit to the dentist.
One of the secrets that dentists will never tell you is that you do not need to visit the dentist every six months, but rather once every year- this is only if your oral hygiene is as up to date! It is important that you visit the dentist as quickly as possible if you are feeling any discomfort as this could be the beginning signs of a much bigger issue. Â
Oil
Pulling Does Work
Another secret that dentists will never
tell you is that oil pulling does work. This unorthodox method of whitening
teeth is often glossed over by dentists who would much rather you opt for a conventional
tooth whitening method in their office which could cost you significantly more.
This is an at-home treatment that uses oils such as coconut oil to gradually
remove the stains from your teeth without the use of harsh chemicals or even a
visit to the dentist. With some simple online research, you can undertake an
oil pulling treatment at home completely risk-free.
Fluoride
Is Not All Bad
Many sources have been reporting on the use
of fluoride in oral hygiene for several years with differing results. Although
it is scientifically proven that too much fluoride can be harmful to the teeth,
it has also been proven that a little amount of fluoride can gradually
strengthen the teeth and help to strengthen enamel. This small amount of
fluoride can be found in specialised mouthwash and can be added to your every
day routine with ease. This is vital as this ensures that you have the fluoride
that you need to keep the teeth health without using to much.
Fish
tanks Are There To Calm The Patient
The fish tank that you often see in the
dentist isn’t just for decoration. This fish tank is most likely there to calm
the patients in the waiting room by creating a calming environment. With a
combination of bright coloured fish and the calming whir of the pump, this can
help to calm those that are waiting whilst creating a
calming environment post-treatment. This is particularly beneficial for those
that fear the dentist as this is a distraction tactic to help calm the patient
and ensure that they are feeling as relaxed as possible both before and after.
Each of these are top tips that your
dentists do not want you to know and are something that you can look out for on
your next trip.
Ask any retail expert and they will tell you that online is the place to be. Old-school bricks and mortar shops still have their place, but the explosive growth and market expansion is all happening on the internet. Outfits like Alibaba, Shopify and Wish have led the way, but there are countless other niche stores, smaller operations and of course online presences for traditional retailers. The reality is that online increases the size of the shopper base exponentially while at the same time lowering costs – you need fewer staff, cheaper premises and you don’t need to hold such large amounts of stock. It is a retailer’s dream. But in an already competitive market, how do you end up with clients? Here are a few tips and ideas that you might want to consider.
Drive traffic smartly
A site with no traffic is never going to manage any sales, so make sure that you know what you are doing in terms of acquiring traffic. Either through paid search or organic search, or both, you want to ensure that when people look for items that you stock, that you are positioned at the top of the Google results page. This is something that can be achieved through a national SEO campaign, something strategic that is run and managed for you by an agency that specialises in this type of work. You could look to hire your own internal expert to take care of this important process, but the reality is that when starting out it might be too expensive to hire a fulltime SEO expert.
Know your market
You are doomed to fail if you think that just because you have a potential base the size of the world’s population that you are going to get rich. The truth is that there are a lot of companies out there who are a lot more established than you are and who have a significantly greater budget for advertising and acquisition. So, you need to be very good at what you do, and you need to have something that sets you apart from the rest. Do one thing and do it well. Don’t try to be the next Alibaba, rather set yourself up to cater for a niche audience. Be the best place to buy socks, or be a lip-gloss specialist, or a kitchenware site. Whatever it is, know the market and the product and don’t try to be all things to all people.
Make payment easy
Paying for online purchases is the biggest failure point for transactions, so make sure that once you have landed a client that you are able to finish the deal. Credit card payments from as many types of card are essential. Being able to accept online wallets and payment systems like PayPal, is also important. If you are able to process Crypto-currencies even better. In short, the easier it is to pay, without login details and passwords and other verifications, the more likely you are going to be to have successful transactions.
Members of the Venezuelan government
say they are putting down a small coup attempt after opposition leader Juan
Guaido announced he was in the “final phase” of ending President
Nicolas Maduro’s rule.
He appeared in a video with
uniformed men, saying he had military support.
Juan Guaido, who declared himself
interim president in January, called for more members of the military to help
him end Nicolas Maduro’s “usurpation” of power.
However, military leaders appeared
to be standing behind Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuela’s defense minister
appeared on TV to stress the point. However, pictures from Caracas show some
soldiers aligning themselves with Juan Guaido’s supporters.
Nicolas Maduro’s detractors hope the
military will change its allegiance as resentment grows following years of
hyperinflation, power cuts, food and medicine shortages.
So far, the armed forces have stood
by President Maduro – despite dozens of countries, including the UK, the US and
most of Latin America, recognizing Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s rightful leader.
As a result, John Bolton, the US
national security adviser, said what was taking place in Venezuela was not a
coup, but a legitimate leader trying to take control.
Protesters supporting both sides
have gathered at different points in the capital, Caracas.
There are running clashes between
Juan Guaido’s supporters and armed military vehicles. Protesters were also seen
throwing rocks, but being repelled by tear gas and water cannon.
TV cameras also caught the moment
armored vehicles drove into a crowd but it is unclear if there were any
injuries.
According to El Universal newspaper, at least 37 people had been injured across
Caracas.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said the uprising by
some members of the military had been “partly defeated”, but warned
of possible bloodshed.
He warned: “The weapons of the
republic are here to defend the nation’s sovereignty and independence.”
Vladimir Padrino also revealed one soldier had suffered a bullet wound.
A three-minute video by Juan Guaido was published on April 30. In the video,
he announced he had the support of “brave soldiers” in Caracas.
“The National Armed Forces have
taken the correct decision… they are guaranteed to be on the right side of
history,” he said.
Juan Guaido was filmed alongside
another opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, who has been under house arrest
since being found guilty of inciting violence during anti-government protests
in 2014.
Leopoldo Lopez, who leads the
Popular Will party of which Juan Guaido is a member, said he had been freed by
members of the military.
He went on to urge Venezuelans to
join them on the streets.
Meanwhile, Chile’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs revealed he, his wife Lilian Tintori and their daughter had
entered Chile’s embassy in Caracas to seek protection.
Juan Guaido, the president of the
opposition-controlled National Assembly, has been calling on the military to
back him ever since he declared himself interim president.
He argues that President Nicolas Maduro is a “usurper” because he
was re-elected in polls that had been widely disputed.
The video appeared to have been recorded at dawn in or near La Carlota air force base in Caracas.
According to a recent research,
published in the journal Brain, millions
of elderly people have a form of dementia that has been misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s
disease.
One expert called it the most
important dementia finding in years.
The condition, limbic-predominant
age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy, or Late,
shares similar symptoms to Alzheimer’s, but it is a distinct disease.
The new discovery may partly explain
why finding a dementia cure has failed so far.
Dementia is not a single disease,
but is the name for a group of symptoms that include problems with memory and
thinking.
There are lots of different types of
dementia and Alzheimer’s is said to be the most common and most researched.
However, up to a third of Alzheimer’s in elderly people may instead be Late,
says the international team of researchers, although both dementias can
co-exist.
The newly discovered dementia appears to affect the “oldest old” –
people over 80 – according to the work that looked at evidence from thousands
of post-mortem results.
One in five in this age group has it, meaning the public health impact of
the disease will be large, say the researchers.
Unlike Alzheimer’s, Late tends to cause a more gradual decline in memory,
they believe.
Currently, there is no specific single test for dementia.
Signs of it can sometimes be seen in the brain after death.
Late appears to be linked to the accumulation of a certain protein, TDP-43,
in the brain, while Alzheimer’s is linked to two other brain proteins – amyloid
and tau.
Scientists have been striving to find a cure for dementia, but with so many
different types and causes of the disease, the goal has proved difficult.
Trials of drugs to reduce proteins in the brain that were thought to cause
Alzheimer’s have failed.
There have been no effective new treatments and some pharmaceutical
companies have dropped out of the dementia drug race.
According to researchers, having a better understanding of Late might lead
to the discovery of new treatments.
Japan’s Emperor Akihito has abdicated at the
age of 85 in a historic ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
In his last public address as emperor, the emperor handed over the symbols
of power and thanked the public for their support during his 30-year reign.
He was given permission to abdicate after saying he felt unable to fulfill
his role because of his age and declining health.
Akihito is the first Japanese monarch to stand down in more than 200 years.
He technically remained emperor until midnight, local time.
Crown Prince Naruhito, the emperor’s eldest son, formally ascends the throne
on May 1. A new era – called Reiwa, meaning order and harmony – will begin in
Japan’s unique calendar.
While the Japanese emperor holds no
political power, he serves as a national figurehead.
Akihito has endeared himself to many
people during his reign as he has interacted with those suffering from disease
and disaster.
In the morning, Akihito took part in
a Shinto ceremony to report his plans to the mythological ancestors of Japan’s
imperial family.
The main “Ceremony of the Abdication” took place in a state room
of the Imperial Palace in front of about 300 people including PM Shinzo Abe,
Crown Prince Naruhito, and Crown Princess Masako.
Imperial chamberlains carried the state and privy seals into the hall, along
with a sacred sword and a jewel which are considered symbols of the imperial
family.
In a short ceremony, PM Shinzo Abe addressed the emperor, saying: “While keeping in our hearts the path
that the emperor has walked, we will make utmost efforts to create a bright
future for a proud Japan that is full of peace and hope.”
In his final speech as emperor, Akihito said: “I am deeply grateful for the people that accepted me as a symbol
and supported me.”
“I sincerely wish, together with the empress, that the
Reiwa era which begins tomorrow will be a stable and fruitful one,” he added.
“I pray, with all my heart, for peace and happiness for
all the people in Japan and around the world.”
Emperor Akihito had surgery for
prostate cancer in 2003 and a heart bypass operation in 2012.
In a rare speech in 2016, he said
that he feared his age would make it hard for him to carry out his duties and
strongly hinted that he wanted to stand down.
Opinion polls showed that the vast
majority of Japan sympathized with him, and a year later parliament enacted a
law that made his abdication possible.
Crown Prince Naruhito, 59, will
become Japan’s 126th emperor – and will officially lead the country into the
new Reiwa era. It will mark the end of the current Heisei era, which began when
Akihito ascended the throne in 1989.
Naruhito, an Oxford University graduate, is married to Crown Princess
Masako. Their only child, Princess Aiko, was born in 2001.
Japan’s current law prohibits women from inheriting the throne, so Princess
Aiko’s uncle Prince Fumihito is now first in line, followed by her cousin,
12-year-old Prince Hisahito.
Japan’s monarchy is the oldest continuing hereditary monarchy in the world.
Legends date it back to about 600 BC.
The emperors used to be seen as gods, but Hirohito – the father of Akihito –
publicly renounced his divinity as part of Japan’s surrender at the end of
World War Two.
It was Emperor Akihito who helped repair Japan’s post-war reputation.
Previous emperors rarely interacted with the public, but Akihito redefined
the role – and has come to be known for his compassion.
He also took up the role of a diplomat, becoming an unofficial ambassador
for Japan and travelling abroad extensively.
While Akihito’s abdication was the first in 200 years, it wasn’t so rare
historically.
According to Japan’s state broadcaster NHK, about half the emperors or empresses have done the same, and it happened frequently from the 8th Century to the 19th Century.
President Donald Trump has issued a memorandum
saying that asylum seekers should pay a fee to have their applications
processed in the latest move in his crackdown on migration.
The presidential memorandum, issued on April 29, called for a slew of new
rules.
The president also wants to disqualify asylum seekers who enter the US
illegally from obtaining temporary work permits.
Critics say that fees would put the process out of reach for many people.
In his memo, President Trump said the fee would not exceed the cost of
processing the applications, but estimates have not yet been provided of what
this may be.
The vast majority of countries do not charge asylum application fees.
Victoria Neilson, a former official at US Citizenship and Immigration
Services, the government agency that accepts asylum applications, told Reuters:
“The majority of people coming to
the United States seeking asylum are coming with little more than the shirts on
their back.”
Under the current system, asylum seekers who enter the US both legally and
illegally are allowed to work while their claims are processed.
President Trump said regulations should be drawn up to ensure that asylum
claims are adjudicated in immigration court within 180 days, except under
exceptional circumstances.
While asylum cases are already meant to be finished within this timeframe, a
backlog of more than 800,000 cases means that asylum claims can take years to
be completed.
The orders given by President Trump to the Justice Department and Department
of Homeland Security mark a dramatic shift in US policy.
The president has given officials 90 days to come up with the new
regulations.
The orders come amid Donald Trump’s efforts to stem the surge of Central American migrants trying to cross into the US.
Whether you are in charge of a large or small business, you rely on a constant streamline of communications between your business management and your clients to ensure they receive the best possible service. The better your communication, the more likely your customers will trust your brand and remain loyal to you, especially if you address all of their concerns. However, do you truly know how well your Communications function for your audience? If you are looking for a way to make sure that your Communication Tools are up to standard, why not initiate a Communications Audit to ensure that your services are the best that they can be?
What is a Communications Audit?
A Communications Audit is an evaluation of an organisation’s communication programmes. This includes sending, receiving and sharing information with a potential audience. The better the communication the more proficient your tools clearly are. It will also determine how efficient your organisation’s communication strategies, activities and programs are.
Image source Pexels
What is the Process of a Communications Audit?
A Communications Audit can be split into four separate areas. These include:
Research: Where your internal team is researched and information is drawn out about their communication conduct through research and interviews. It will also look into key communication channels of your business.
Analysis: This is where the Research is filtered and put into context, such as what your business is marketing towards and your customer service. It will also include a SWOT analysis of your business .
Recommendations: Once your communications have been analysed, the strong and weak points will be noted and recommendations will be made on how to improve them.
Future Plans: Looking ahead, the recommendations will then be used to improve the business for the future. You can also use it to determine what future resources you will need to grow your company.
Why does your Company need a Communications Audit?
If you are looking for a way to improve your marketing plans then a Communications Audit is truly the perfect way for you to get to know your audience. Whilst it is known that there are challenges of implementing unified communications, this does not detract from the fact that you can research into what sort of communications best fit with your audience’s daily lives. You can also use it to utilise your businesses approach into potential goals, challenges and what your business aims to accomplish in the future.
Your research can also focus on both internal and external research about your company. Are you experiencing growth because your clients can reach your staff by email or by phone? Which of these is more effective for your brand? A Communications Audit will give you an insight into the best methods.
A Communications Audit can help improve the communication within your business and will allow you to build trust between your employees. This is because the internal communications will allow your employees to focus on their work, as well as allow them to feel valued and listened to if their communications are easily accessible by management.
Working as an online teacher is a really rewarding and fun experience. You get to help students achieve their dreams without leaving the comfort of your home. Also, if you love traveling, you can take online teaching jobs that will allow you to tutor students as you travel the world. For those who already have jobs, online teaching can serve as a side job to supplement their income. If you are considering a career as an online teacher, the following tips can help you in getting started and succeeding.
Standards
Online teaching is as serious as classroom teaching. Therefore, while you get the freedom to work from home, you have to adhere to standards. Each organization has standards that should be met in order to ensure that students get quality education. For that reason, you not only risk losing your job when you fail to adhere to these standards, but you will also compromise on the quality of education that the students get.
Education
To become an online teacher with an accredited organization, you will require an education degree and a teaching license. If you have not completed your higher education yet, consider private tutoring jobs that require a high school diploma. Some institutionswill require a master’s degree or PhD. Thanks to online masters in education programs, you can easily advance your education as you work as an online tutor. These online programs allow tutors to study at their convenience and they also tend to be cheaper.
The Skills You Need
To succeed in online teaching, you need the following skills:
Time management: To be a successful online teacher, you have to be good with time management. Time management skills will ensure that the syllabus -including tests – are completed on time, you are never late for online interactions, and issues are resolved on time.
Dependability: Students who take classes online will email, text and post questions on forums at any time of the day or night. You have to be someone they can rely on to answer their questions,even the ones that arise after your working hours. Make it clear how the students can contact you and when they should expect to hear back from you after asking a question.
Communication: Even though you will not be meeting one on one with students, proper communication skills are still important. Any document that you send to them whether written, video or audio should be clear and concise. When doing an online lecture, prepare your notes well and ensure that you are audible.
Self-discipline: Since you will be working from home, self-discipline is an essential skill for success.
Management and leadership: As an online teacher, you need skills to manage your classes and lead your students. You should constantly evaluate how your students are doing, motivate them and give extra help to those who are lagging behind.
If you are not so good at one or several of these skills, you can take some online classes, get some coaching and read online resources to help you become a better teacher. Make it a habit to learn new skills every year.
These tips should help you on your way to becoming an online teacher!
Real estate is a wise and
popular investment option for several reasons including great returns, tax
benefits, and increased value over time. When hopeful investors think about
obtaining financing for real estate, the set conditions from traditional
lenders stop many of them in their tracks. These include high credit scores,
low debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, and a down payment of up to 30%.
Banks put these stringent
requirements in place after the economic downturn in 2008 and sadly, not
everyone can meet them. Even with all the necessary requirements, it can be a
lengthy and agonizing process. Fortunately, non-conventional methods of
financing have enabled eager investors to realize their dreams of becoming
property owners, and in a short time.
These financing alternatives are hard money and private money. Although they both have advantages over traditional lending, they also have downsides. Borrowers must thoroughly research each alternative and each lender to ensure all is a good fit and to avoid disastrous situations.
What
is Hard Money?
Hard money is a short term,
asset-based type of loan. A hard money loan is suitable for purchasing land,
construction, fixer-uppers, and flips. You can get it from a group of
investors or a company. Unlike usual lenders, hard money lenders are more
interested in the value of the property than your credit report.
The words ‘hard money’ does not
imply that this financing is difficult to acquire. On the contrary, it’s quite
easy. It actually defines the property being a hard asset. When borrowers have
been frustrated by the banks, or they require quick financing, this is a great
alternative. The typical payment period is 1 year although it can be increased
up to 2-5 years.
Other requirements by lenders may include:
Property type
The geographical location (some
lenders provide their services locally or to particular states)
Some may even ask you how many
homes you flipped; the higher the number of homes you flipped that have had
good repayment records lowers your interest rate
Borrower’s plan for the
property. The lender may want to know the borrower’s intentions, for example,
whether they plan to renovate the property or obtain further financing over the
long run.
Properties Financed by Hard Money Loans
Any kind of property can be financed by a hard money loan, including commercial property, land, residential property and industrial property. A few lenders may specify a niche, for example, commercial and not residential. Very few lenders will transact with owner-occupied properties. They involve extra requirements and include loads of paperwork.
What is Private Money?
Private money is short-term
financing borrowed from an individual who could be a friend or family member
and can be used for financing real estate transactions. The characteristics and
benefits are basically similar to those of hard money.
Benefits of Hard Money and
Private Money
Quick Approval Process
The process of obtaining the loan from www.justrightloans.com is quick and straightforward. It can take a maximum of two weeks as opposed to a bank’s usual 30-40 days. No time is wasted on filling and signing piles of paperwork or checking your credit history. Lenders make decisions fast. They focus more on the property.
As long as the collateral has
good value, they are not worried about whether you will make the payments or
not. They will simply sell off the property and probably make more money than
what you would have paid back.
Flexible Agreements
Unlike traditional lenders who have their rules set in stone, hard money lenders assess borrowers on a case-by-case basis. This means that you can come to terms about extending your repayment period based on your state of affairs.
Downsides to Hard Money
Financing
High-Interest Rates
Interest rates differ for each lender and each geographical
location. Areas with several money lending firms will charge lower because of
competition. Loans from hard money lenders are high risk, and so they will
charge high-interest, usually between 10% and 15%.
High origination free
Hard money lenders will charge a high fee for processing your loan application because the loan is risky. They can charge as much as 5% of the loan compared to banks, which might charge only 1%.
Short Repayment Period
While
mortgages typically have long repayment periods of 30-40 years, these loans
have a very short period of up to a maximum of 5 years. Real estate properties
are not cheap and normally require a longer period to pay back unless the
property is highly profitable.
Before
taking on a private or hard loan, borrowers should ascertain how long it would
take for the property to become profitable. Then they can see whether the
repayment period is feasible.
Hard money lenders use a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio to decide on
the amount of the loan. Most of these lenders provide between 65 and 75% of the
total value of the property. They maintain a low LTV ratio so that it’s easy
for them to put the property on the market with the likelihood of getting back
their money.
Some lenders will use the after-repair value (ARV) to determine the total amount of the loan. This is the future value of a property after it has been renovated by the borrower. A few lenders may even offer to cover the rehabilitation costs of the property on top of a high percentage of the ARV. This would seem attractive to the borrower; however, it makes the deal riskier because of even higher interest rates of up to 18%. If the property is highly profitable, it would be better for the borrower to cover the rehab costs.
Lenders You Should Avoid
Some hard money lenders have ruined the industry’s name with predatory lending actions. They intentionally provide high-risk loans so that the borrower is in a position of not being able to pay. They exploit the borrower’s inability to understand certain financial terms regarding loans.
Sometimes lenders will bait borrowers with
attractive schemes and then, later on, switch the scheme without the borrower
knowing.
They only discover these several months later when their subsequent payments are much higher. After a thorough investigation, they realize that there was a modification on the interest rate that they were not informed about. Eventually, the lenders end up owning borrower’s property when borrowers fail to pay, as was their intention all along.
Be careful not
to fall prey to predatory lenders. The loan may be quick and easy to get, but
you need to do thorough research, preferably with referrals if possible. Check
your documents completely to make sure that they are consistent with what was
agreed. Getting educated with financial terms can save you from a
predatory lender.
The US
Department of Housing and Urban Development has put on controls to eliminate
this unscrupulous behavior. Many money lenders have adjusted their operations
by further assessing the eligibility of borrowers through income documents.
Finding
the Right Hard Money Lender
You can find
the right money lender by starting with a Google search. Type in ‘your area’ +
‘hard money lenders.’ This will bring up a list of lenders that you can
contact. If
you have real estate clubs in your neighborhood, you could attend the meetings
and find out from other investors.
The lender should ideally have
a great track record and should cater to customers’ needs first. You can check
out their website for reviews and meet with them to decide if they are the
right fit for you. Stay away from lenders who have no reputation to speak of.
If you’re new to private
lending, the lender should have several years of experience as well. You need
to deal with a transparent, qualified professional who will provide sufficient
knowledge about these loans, including the good and bad. This will help you
weigh your options.
Although alternative lenders typically charge a high-interest rate, they aren’t all the same. You can still do some digging around to compare and find the one with the best rate for you.
Wrap
Up
Every lending opportunity has a
good and bad side. The point is that you choose the one that works for your
situation. If you are an investor looking for lending alternatives, hopefully,
the above information has given you some confidence. You can now approach hard
money and private money knowing what to expect.
Kim Jong-un has arrived in Vladivostok, Russia,
for a summit with President Vladimir Putin.
The North Korean leader arrived by train in the Pacific Coast for his first
talks with the Russian president, which are expected to start on April 25.
Kim Jong-un was welcomed by officials with a traditional offering of bread
and salt.
Russia says they will discuss the Korean peninsula’s “nuclear
problem” but Kim Jong-un is also said to be seeking support after talks
with the US failed.
President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un met in Hanoi earlier this year to
discuss North Korea’s nuclear weapons program but the summit – their second –
ended without agreement.
The North Korean leader greeted Russian officials warmly on his arrival in
Vladivostok.
After tasting traditional korovai bread and salt, Kim Jong-un was
entertained by a brass band before he got inside a car flanked by bodyguards
who – in now familiar scenes – jogged alongside the vehicle as it departed.
He told Russian TV earlier, after
crossing the border at Khasan: “I
arrived in Russia bearing the warm feelings of our people, and as I already
said, I hope this visit will be successful and useful.
“I hope that during the talks with respected President
Putin, I will be able to discuss in a concrete manner issues relating to the
settlement of the situation on the Korean peninsula, and to the development of
our bilateral relations.”
The summit is due to take place on
April 25 at about 13:00 local time on Russky island, just off Vladivostok,
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russia’s
Interfax news agency.
Russian and North Korean national
flags are already in place on the island, where the leaders are expected to
meet on a university campus.
Vladimir Putin was expected to
arrive for the summit later.
According to his spokesman, the
Kremlin believes the six-party talks on North Korea, which are currently
stalled, are the only efficient way of addressing the issue of nuclear weapons
on the Korean peninsula.
Those talks, which began in 2003,
involve the two Koreas as well as China, Japan, Russia and the US.
North Korea has blamed Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo for the collapse of the Hanoi summit in February.
Earlier this month, North Korea
demanded that Mike Pompeo be removed from nuclear talks, accusing him of
“talking nonsense” and asking for someone “more careful” to
replace him.
The summit is also an opportunity
for Pyongyang to show that its economic future does not depend solely on the US.
Kim Jong-un may also try to put
pressure on Moscow to ease sanctions.
Analysts believe this summit is a
chance for Russia to show that it is an important player on the Korean
peninsula.
President Vladimir Putin has been
eager to meet Kim Jong-un for quite some time. Yet amid the two Trump-Kim
summits, the Kremlin has been somewhat sidelined.
Russia, like the US and China, is uncomfortable with North Korea being a nuclear state.
If you’ve suffered severe or long-term injuries while on public or work property or you believe your injury was the fault of someone else, it could be a good idea to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Personal injury cases are complicated and trying to handle a claim yourself could wind up getting you an extremely low pay-out as a nuisance claim paid by an insurance company just to make you go away.
Only 4-5% of personal injury claims go to trial. The rest are settled out of court. Of the cases that do go to court, 90% lose. A good personal injury lawyer can help you avoid going to trial and get you maximum compensation for your claim.
Keep reading for times it’s necessary to hire a personal injury lawyer and find out why it is advised over trying to represent yourself.
1. If an Injury Has Affected Your Ability to Work
If you’ve suffered a long-term injury that has caused you to miss work, and you believe someone else is at fault, the expertise of a personal injury lawyer will help to calculate the total amount of compensation you are entitled to.
Unless you have a law background yourself, you won’t be equipped to fully understand the implications of the injury and how it affects your income long-term.
You might end up missing out on available compensation without professional legal representation.
2. If You Believe Your Injury Was Someone Else’s Fault
The most common types of personal injury cases are motor vehicle accidents, work-related injuries, medical malpractice, and negligence.
If you believe you have been injured under any of these circumstances, and you have proof, it’s very likely you are entitled to compensation.
However, no personal injury case is as simple as it seems. Most insurance companies will do whatever they can do to deny a claim. This is where the expertise of a lawyer comes in.
3. If You May Have Been Partially At Fault
Especially in messy motor vehicle accidents where there is more than one injured party, you could be partially at fault for your own injuries, as well as the injuries of other involved parties.
In these cases, it is especially helpful to hire a personal injury lawyer, as they have the experience and expertise to protect you against counter-claims. They also understand how to preserve and present evidence.
4. If You’re Worried About Money
Trying to represent yourself could end up costing you more. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning they only collect fees if they win your case. There is usually no fee required up front.
If you try to handle your own case, not only is there a higher chance of losing, it can also end up costing you more time and money than it’s worth. Especially if there are counter-claims involved.
5. If Your Injuries Are Severe
Insurance companies assess injury cases based on the type of injury sustained, the amount paid in medical bills and total recovery time. In some cases, severe injuries can exceed the limits of the at-fault person’s insurance policy.
A personal injury lawyer knows how to navigate through the red tape of insurance policies and will work on your behalf to ensure you receive the total amount of compensation for costs incurred, even if it exceeds the policy.
6. If You Are Not Comfortable with The Legal Process
Most people have very little understanding of how the law actually works. While it might be tempting to try to avoid the costs of a lawyer when dealing with a personal injury claim, your lack of expertise could end up costing you much more.
A personal injury lawyer will bring years of experience to the table and will know how to negotiate and handle complex situations that almost definitely will arise during the claim process.
7. If an Insurance Company Has Agreed to Pay You a Low Amount
Often times when unrepresented people file a claim, the at-fault party’s insurance company will view the claim as unworthy of their time.
This is because they are assuming (often correctly) that a person without legal representation has little or no understanding of the law and won’t have the knowledge or resources to fight back.
These small claim payments are referred to as nuisance payments. It’s when an insurance company offers a ridiculously low amount as a pay-off to make the claim ‘go away’.
Hiring a lawyer will eliminate this risk altogether. Insurance companies respond a lot better to professional lawyers as they know a lawyer has the means to win.
8. If You’re Being Wrongfully Sued
If someone has filed a claim against you and you want to dispute it, a personal injury lawyer can save you a huge amount of time, headache and possibly money.
Disputing a case yourself, especially against someone who is represented by legal counsel will not end well.
Even if you know you are not at fault, disputing a claim is a long and arduous process and is best handled by a professional.
9. If an Insurance Company Refuses to Pay
If you’ve tried to handle a case yourself and the at-fault party’s insurance company refuses to pay, this is the time to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Insurance companies will refuse to pay for any reason they can. If they are denying their client’s liability, you will have to enter into a complex appeal process that could end up in court.
A lawyer will know what evidence to provide and how to present it in a way that can protect you.
Other Reasons to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
They have experience that you do not. They know how to negotiate, investigate and present information in a way that will maximize the chances of winning your case.
You have nothing to lose by hiring a lawyer. Since most personal injury lawyers don’t take payment until the settlement is won, you won’t have to pay a penny if your case doesn’t win.
Do your research and choose a lawyer with experience in the specific area of your personal injury claim. Choose one who you can be open and honest with, and who has a track record of success.
If you don’t know where to start, visit these lawyers who have a proven high success rate for personal injury cases and work on a contingency basis.
To Summarize
20 to 50 Americans per year get severely injured in motor vehicle accidents alone. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can be the difference between getting properly compensated and being left to deal with the aftermath of an injury yourself.
We hope this article cleared up any confusion around hiring a lawyer versus trying to handle a personal injury claim yourself. Visit our business blog for more information on how to find a good lawyer.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear those words? If you’re like most people, you think of someone facing criminal charges – most likely murder or theft.
Well, you don’t have to be a criminal suspect to need an attorney. In fact, in some instances, you don’t have to be navigating the court system to need an attorney. Even some mundane tasks such as signing a rental agreement can need the input of an attorney.
Ready to learn about some of the most important instances where you should hire an attorney?
Let’s get into it!
Guy and businesswoman talking in a job interview in an office
1. You’re Starting a Business
In a country where 69 percent of entrepreneurs start their businesses from home, it can be difficult to see a need to hire a business attorney. After all, lower startup costs are the main reason home-based businesses are popular, so not many entrepreneurs have the money to spend on legal services.
However, hiring an attorney when you’re starting a business is a smart move, and here is why.
Let’s say you have a groundbreaking product, and you can’t wait to take it to market. With an attorney on your team, you’ll be reminded to first file a patent before starting selling it. The lawyer will file for the patent on your behalf.
Other tasks a commercial attorney can help include:
Drafting business/partnership contracts
Providing counsel on commercial/corporate law
Negotiating business deals.
2. You’ve Sustained a Personal Injury
Not all personal injuries require an attorney. If you chop off your finger while preparing dinner, you’re responsible for your own misfortune. Or if your pet dog goes rogue and bites you, the only professional service you need is medical attention.
But if you’ve sustained a personal injury as a result of someone else negligence, you may need to hire an attorney at some point.
For instance, if you’re involved in a car accident and another driver is at fault, you’re going to need the driver’s insurance company to compensate you for your injuries and damages. A personal injury lawyer will help you negotiate the settlement and ensure you get the money you deserve.
Similarly, if you’re injured on the job, you’ll need to hire a personal injury attorney to represent you in the compensation negotiations. And if the employer’s insurer doesn’t make you a satisfactory offer, the attorney can sue them in court.
Suddenly, you’ve got mail! It’s the Internal Revenue Service, and you’re in for an audit.
Who’s the first person you call? If you’re a smart guy, you’d call a tax attorney.
These professionals know tax law inside out. They’ll examine whatever tax situation you’re facing and offer a solution. If the IRS is suing you, this is the lawyer you want leading your defense team.
4. You’re in Serious Debt
The average American is over $30,000 in debt – and this is excluding home loans.
Clearly, debt is a major issue in the US, and if you’re not financially savvy, you can easily end up borrowing more than you can manage to pay. If you spiral into this situation, your lenders can come after your assets, especially if you’ve secured debt.
Do you want to lose your car, home, or any other prized asset?
The answer is no, and the only way to keep collection agencies at bay is to file for bankruptcy. However, filing for bankruptcy is a complex process. From figuring out which type of bankruptcy suits your situation to filling out the paperwork, a newbie cannot hack it.
The solution? Hire a bankruptcy lawyer.
This professional will counsel you about the process, including the risks involved, prepare the paperwork, and handle any litigation on your behalf.
If yes, it’s understandable that thinking about and planning for your death is a heavy issue. But let’s face it: death is coming. And when it comes, it better finds your estate in order; otherwise, there could be chaos, with your next of kin fighting over your assets.
Writing a will eliminates such scenarios. It gives you an opportunity to not only allocate your wealth accordingly but also decide who’ll make medical decisions in the event that you’re incapacitated.
A will can be a simple document, especially if you don’t have much to your name. But if your estate is large, things can get complex. Either way, it’s a smart idea to get an estate planning attorney to help you understand the process and make the right decisions.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to start planning your estate.
6. You’re Suspected of Committing a Crime
Get this: you don’t need to be guilty of a crime to hire a criminal lawyer.
Yes, you could be as clean as whistle, but left to your own devices, you might not be able to prove it – and the prosecution will have a field day nailing your butt. Really, it’s a flaw in the American justice system. Far too many people – as many as 230,000 – are locked away for crimes they didn’t commit, and for many of those, it’s because they couldn’t afford a lawyer.
So if you’re facing criminal charges, lawyer up!
What’s more, there are different types of criminal lawyers. The one you should hire depends on the type of criminal offense you’re suspected of committing.
For example, if you’re suspected of manslaughter, you need a manslaughter charge lawyer. If you’re facing a DUI charge, hire a DUI lawyer.
And if you’re suspected of dealing drugs, get a drug lawyer. On that note, be sure to learn more about how a drug lawyer can help you.
7. You’re Facing a Family Issue
Divorce is the first thing that bursts to mind when a family lawyer is mentioned. Who can blame you?
America is a country of divorcees. With about 50 percent of all marriages ending in divorce, family attorneys are some of the more sought after professionals.
It goes without saying that if you’re in the middle of a divorce, you should hire a family attorney – specifically one who specializes in divorce. If you’re not able to agree with your soon-to-be ex-spouse on issues such as property division, children, and support, your attorney can help you reach an amicable agreement. They’ll also take care of the necessary paperwork.
That being said, there are other instances where you may want the services of a family lawyer:
You want to draw up prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
You’re a victim or perpetrator of domestic violence
You want to adopt a child
You’re not sure about the paternity of your children
You’re accused of neglecting your children.
8. You’re a Victim of Medical Malpractice
When you go to a health facility to get treatment, a misdiagnosis or getting the wrong treatment is the last thing on your mind. Physicians go through extensive training so that they never have to make such mistakes.
However, medical malpractice, whether through omission or negligence, is a common theme. Every year, about 250,000 people in the US die due to medical malpractice. Many more sustain serious injuries.
If you or your loved one is a victim of medical malpractice, you need to sue the health worker and even the health facility. This is why you must hire a medical malpractice lawyer.
These professionals have a good grasp of both the law and medicine. They’ll review your situation and help you get justice, be it in terms of adequate monetary compensation or ensuring the defendant gets jail time.
9. You Need Immigration Help
The Trump administration is actively pushing for tougher immigration laws and policies, which means it’s an unsettling time for immigrants.
If you’ve been caught up in an immigration issue and you’re facing deportation, hire an immigration attorney. They could be your last line of defense.
There are also other immigration issues that need the input of an immigration attorney. If you’re looking to immigrate to another country, you need an attorney who’s well-versed with the country’s visa rules. Other instances include when you’re applying for citizenship or permanent residency status, or looking to obtain proof of citizenship.
Know When to Hire an Attorney
Most attorneys charge a premium for their services, which is the reason most people go to them as a last resort.
However, as this article demonstrates, there are instances when you first order of business should be to hire an attorney – and not just any attorney, but an attorney who specializes in the resolving the issues you’re facing.
You’ve opened your dream business, you’ve got tasteful, stylish signage outside, and you’re ready for customers. However, on opening those double doors, not a soul can be found.
You’re stumped – you did everything right, and your idea is foolproof. So why hasn’t anyone stumbled upon your genius yet? Is your business not good enough?
Slow down – the problem probably isn’t with your business. The truth is, it can be challenging to get new customers, especially if you’re starting with very few leads.
That’s why we’ve created this handy list of 8 innovative ways to quickly gain new, loyal customers for your business.
Ready? Let’s jump in.
Hand pressing a new customers business button on blurred city lights background
8 Genius Ways to Hook New Customers
We’ve broken down our list into the 8 best ideas for you to start building your business’ client base.
While some of these strategies rely on existing customers, we’ve also made sure to include some tips for entirely new businesses as well.
1. Use Customer Loyalty
If you’re an existing business, you probably have some customers who love your service. In the case of building a base of new customers, any current customers become a valuable resource.
With this in mind, try a few of these techniques to leverage your existing customers:
Get them to give referrals (consider giving out some freebies in response)
Offer prizes (discounts, coupons, gift cards) for reviews or bringing in new people
Personalize touches for customers (homemade notes)
It’s no secret that customers are willing to bring people to businesses that they love – show your customers you value their business and their friends will follow.
2. Mingle with Contemporaries
In the age of the internet, it’s more important than ever for companies to have an active social media footprint. But more than just connecting with your regular customers, social media allows you to mingle with potential clients, even people not within your current industry.
In particular, Twitter and LinkedIn are great places to do this, as it’s easy to reach out to people and create a connection.
Social media isn’t the only place to link with new customers, either – try attending physical events and discussing your business with potential clients. That’s right, good old-fashioned footwork isn’t quite dead yet.
3. Give Out Promo Items
If there’s one thing we know about people, it’s that they love free stuff. So why not take advantage of that “take everything free” mentality?
Promotional items might seem cheesy at first glance, but they’re actually an effective (and cheap) way of marketing a business.
Plus, if you can figure out an innovative way to make the item useful (branded bottle openers, anyone?), the people who receive them will actually use them, putting your business in their head every time they do.
4. Hold Some Events
Events work nicely because they serve two purposes: people get to try out a new business, and they get to mingle with their friends. It’s a win-win, and a great way of generating new customers.
Here are some great ideas for events you could hold:
Reach out to groups looking for meeting/event spaces
Wine & cheese nights for food-based businesses or restaurants
Partner with another complementary business to hold a joint event
There’s also a hidden third benefit here – when people come to an event or hold their meetings at your business, they come to associate those good memories with your space. Triple whammy.
5. Improve Your SEO
SEO is just as important (or arguably more important) than your day-to-day foot traffic. While only a handful of people might walk past your business, many more will discover it via Google, Yelp, or other search services.
With that in mind, you can improve your business’ SEO in tons of fairly easy ways to gain new customers:
Create a blog full of common search topics in your industry (and update it often)
Cultivate your online presence, so you’re everywhere
Engage with a community by commenting and linking to other companies/businesses
It’s not enough to just have a website set up – you’ve got to put in the work to rank your website as well. You should also look into hiring an experienced team that can provide SEO services to help guide you in the right direction and provide ideas on how to take your business’ SEO to the next level.Â
6. Offer New Customer Specials
How many times have you seen a “new customers get 25% off” sign and been tempted to take a step in, even if the business isn’t somewhere, you’d typically go? After all, we all know the fear of missing out (FOMO).
Just like with free stuff, it’s possible to catch new customers with deals and steals, especially if they feel like those deals are going to go away soon.
With this in mind, try running some new customer-exclusive deals to get foot traffic into your business. Ultimately, the amount of money lost on discounts will be more than made up for if you can get some loyal new customers.
7. Use Available Resources
You no longer need to take stabs in the dark to estimate what kinds of clients want your products. In fact, there are tons of new software and partner companies that can help you generate leads and figure out who your target market should be (read more here).
While it might seem scary to bring in outside influence, don’t be afraid to consult these companies. They just might be the missing link to getting your business the recognition it deserves.
8. Carve out a Niche
The sheer amount of new businesses that crop up yearly can make starting a business seem impossible, especially regarding gaining new customers.
It’s not impossible; it’s just a bit different, as businesses need to find their “thing” to be successful. For instance, if you are a health food company, try to think of an angle that allows you to be unique in that space. Maybe you offer health food specifically for people who do watersports, or people who come from military training backgrounds.
Whatever it is, it’s critical to find a specific, unique space to occupy to build a base of new customers.
Now What?
Now you’re an expert on gaining new customers, so building a loyal base should be a breeze.
Hungry for more? Check out some of our other business articles for more tips on building a following, and contact us if you have questions or concerns.
This
fungal infection is such a nuisance but there are effective ways to deal with
it.
You may
think that ringworm is caused by a worm but that is not the case. It is
actually caused by a fungus and it gets the name ringworm from the shape it
forms when it develops on the skin. Ringworm is characterized by a circular
rash on the skin that has distinct edges. It looks like a worm that has its
ends joined to form a ring and as such, the infection has come to be identified
as ringworm.
It is
common in school going children but it can also be found in adults who don’t
uphold the best hygiene practices. It is spread through contact with an
infected surface and it appears on different parts of the body. Clothes and
surfaces such as locker rooms and bathrooms harbour the fungus and one can
easily catch it after coming into contact with the infected surfaces.
It is
common in people who have compromised immune systems. It spreads easily among
groups of people who spend a lot of time together and such as families and
athletes since there is a long of skin to skin contact.
A
mother can easily get it from her child when she is breastfeeding and an
athlete can get it from another when they share clothing in the changing room.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Treatment for Ringworm
Ring worm is quite irritating but the good thing is that it doesn’t come with harsh complications. The ringworm rash can be treated with topical creams and it will gradually disappear. However, when the ringworm develops on the scalp, topical treatments will not be ideal as such treatments do not penetrate the scalp properly for effective treatment.
In such
a case, you will require oral antifungal medications that are more intensive
than topical creams. The treatment will take approximately 6 weeks but it will
help clear the infection once and for all.
Transmission from Animals
Ringworm
is one of the diseases that humans share with animals and as such, one can get
it from coming into contact with an infected animal. Pets such as cats and dogs
are known to suffer ringworm infections and the fungus will get to you when you
pet or play with them. Cows also bear the infection and you can get infected
with ringworm when you come into contact with an infected cow.
How to Prevent Ringworm
The
best way to prevent the spread of ringworm is by observing high levels of hygiene.
You should also avoid sharing your clothing and personal items with others as
this is the easiest way to get the infection transferred to you.
Parents
should make sure that kids don’t share caps with their friends as they can
easily get the fungus transferred to their scalps.
You
should also avoid contact with infected animals. Monitor your pets for signs of
ringworm and get them treated so as to prevent the infection from spreading in
your home.
When
you or any other member in your home gets ringworm, seek medical attention
immediately so as to prevent its spread.
Australia’s seasonal climate is one that can leave residents wondering as to how to best warm and cool their home. Finding a way to comfortably cool and heat a home, regardless of the season, takes a multi-pronged approach to both decorating your home and managing energy costs. In fact, homeowners might find the perfect way to stay warm in the winter while enjoying the cool air in the summer is by investing in some clever additions to their home.
Installing roof ventilation units and skylights are just two great ways that homeowners can make their home feel comfortable as the seasons change. While not all homeowners have the budget to invest in large home improvement projects, it is possible to keep your home comfortable in another much more affordable way. Considering your window dressings, not only allows you to beautify the space but these improvements can also help you through the most extreme months, especially the Australian summers.
Let’s take a closer look at how changing your window dressings can help with controlling indoor heat and cooling as the seasons change.
Made In The Shade
If you are looking for ways to provide your home with some much-needed shade in the warmer months, consider awnings that can provide coverage for your patio, lawn and pool. Today’s awnings come in a variety of styles and colours with an option to suit every taste and budget. For an extra level of sophistication, homeowners can install awnings that provide adequate coverage and are also versatile enough to retract if you want to let the sun into your space. These folding arm awnings are great for families who love to spend time outdoors and want to be able to move in and out of the sunshine as they choose. These awnings can also help with controlling how much direct sunlight gets into the home, which can help to reduce your cooling costs.
Retractable Screens
Retractable screens are another way in which homeowners can avoid the heat during the summer. These screens are great for sliding glass doors because they allow homeowners to enjoy the fresh air while not having to worry about the problems that come with standard screens, such as bugs and other pests. Finally, many of these screens can be operated by remote control, making them easy to control. Plus, they can really add a sense of style to your place, giving it a chicness that is not often seen with standard screens.
Blinds
Blinds are a fantastic way to change up your home’s appearance while taking the changing seasons into account. The benefit of blinds is that they are easy to clean, and they allow homeowners to better regulate the amount of light that gets into the home. If you think blinds would be a good choice for your home, there is a huge range of choices available. They come in remote control options, solar options, and battery-powered versions. Vertical and horizontal blinds come in wood-coloured, wooden, and plastic and there are also fabric blinds, such as Roman and roller blinds, to choose from.
Soft Window Treatments
Soft window treatments include drapes and curtains. While drapes and curtains require more work, they can give your room an elegant and sophisticated look, that for many homeowners is difficult to beat. Their major benefit is that they serve as insulation in the winter months when it is cooler while keeping the light out in the warmer months. For a more effective solution to keeping sunlight out of your home, consider blackout curtains that are specifically designed to stop the light from getting into your space.
A Dressing For Each Season
With so many options available to homeowners, finding the right window dressing to keep your home comfortable throughout the year should not be difficult. Modern window dressings have come a long way in providing functionality while also adding to the overall aesthetics of your home. Whether choosing awnings, blinds, or soft window treatments, there is something available to match every style, theme and look. Whatever your needs are, be sure to take some time to understand your requirements first. Knowing exactly what you expect from your new window dressings will allow you to make the right decision for your home both in terms of how they function and how they look in your home.
Natural light brings illumination to a space that cannot be replicated by other types of lights. In addition to brightening the space, natural light can also provide our bodies with a healthy dose of Vitamin D. For homeowners who love natural light, there are a million and one ways to bring it into their living spaces.
One common way to take advantage of natural light is to install skylights. Skylights are great for rooms that are dim and excellent for hallways and foyers, which typically get little light. However, for those new to shopping for skylights, finding one that fits your budget and is perfect for your space can be time-consuming.
Let’s take a closer look at the different types of skylights available so that you can make the right choice for your home.
Skylight Models
Each one comes in a different shape – flat, arched, domed, and pyramid. They are usually made from plastic or glass and come with glazing either plastic or glass. Plastic glazing is more affordable and sturdy, but glass glazing lasts a long time.
Then, there are the different types of light that come into the home. Flared light, straight light, and shaft-less light are a few of the types available with each one working best for the shape and style of the room. The right choice will depend on whether there are obstructions in the way and the shape of the ceiling.
Homeowners have a few choices in skylights styles from which to choose. Fixed skylights can be installed in any room and are great for out-of-reach places. They come with plastic domes but do not provide any ventilation. Tubular skylights are great for hallways, pantries, foyers, closets, and other typically dimly lit spaces. Of the three types, these are supposed to be the easiest to install. It contains an adjustable reflective tube and fits into tight spaces.
Finally, there are the skylights that open up and provide ventilation. These work well in places where moisture collects in rooms, i.e. bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. This particular style also works with cathedral ceilings. The benefits to this style of skylight are that they can come with a remote control, and they are easier to clean.
Energy-Efficiency
The one feature of skylights that make them very attractive to consumers is that they are not only great ways to brighten spaces, but they are very energy efficient. When shopping for skylights, buyers should be aware of a few factors. If deciding to install a skylight, keep in mind that skylights that face north can provide much illumination without taking in or releasing too much heat.
Those that face south can provide your home extra warmth in the winter, but unfortunately, can cause your home to retain heat in the summer. Skylights that face east can provide more light and heat in the morning, while those that face west do the same thing in the afternoon. While ultimately the home’s floor plan will dictate where to place the skylight, homeowners should keep this in mind.
When looking for a skylight, shoppers should pay attention to a few things. First, skylights with the Energy Star label maximise efficiency to lower your utility bills. Features to look out for include heat-absorbing units, UV protection, and low-emissivity coatings, as these provide homeowners with energy efficiency while reducing the fading effect of the light let in on carpeting and other surfaces. A few models have motorised blinds to offset the glare at the brightest time of the day.
Guiding Light To The Right Skylight
Installing a skylight has to be one of the best ways to improve the look and value of your home. Natural light that enters into the space can really change the appearance of a room. More importantly, it can make your home more energy efficient while letting the light shine in.
Research is one of the ways that scientists, scholars, and researchers generate conclusions regarding a range of subjects. More than making a name for themselves, this group of professionals have a vested interest in making sure that not only research protocols are followed rigidly but also making sure that long before the trials are implemented much preparation has taken place. The preparation and implementation guidelines in a clinical trial pretty much govern the entire project, and when organised, can result in well-founded, valid research results.
When preparing to conduct clinical trials, some of the more obvious activities like choosing subjects and material eclipse other more important details like obtaining the right clinical trial insurance. Safety is also a major concern when organising clinical trials, regardless of whether these trials are human or non-human. Australia’s governing body on research, The Department of Health and Ageing, gives prospective clinical trial holders a guide to use in preparing and implementing research.
Continue reading to learn what is expected of researchers when holding clinical trials.
Preparation Activities
In its initial stages, clinical trial facilitators have two tasks to complete before actually going about the research. Coming up with questions related to the research itself and then actually doing the prep work are major tasks that need to be tackled. These questions are designed to give the study focus, and the prep work is related to making sure that participants and staff are safe.
Questions that researchers should ask themselves include: questions related to the outcome or what question the trial intends to address, questions related to the structure of the trial design, questions related to the number of subjects or participants, questions related to insurance coverage, questions related to the treatment of participants after the trial has been completed, questions related to the packaging of trial products, and questions related to the patient consent forms. According to the Department of Health, these are the major questions researchers should answer in the preparation process.
Doing the prep work involves the orchestration of many tasks. One of the first tasks relates to gathering the essentials, which can include a Trial Master of Files containing an Investigator’s Brochure (IB) regarding the product. The IB should include a table of contents, a summary of the contents (chemical, pharmacological, pharmaceutical, metabolic, and clinical information about the product), a brief summary of the product as outlined by the Department of Health, and a description of the structural formulas of the product.
Another major task relates to any business that should be taken care of sometime before the trials begin. Making sure that patients are informed and have given their consent to participate in trials, providing documentation of agreements between sponsors and investigators, and providing an insurance statement are all important. Getting the requisite signatures to the appropriate offices is important, and making sure information related to the curriculum vitae of all investigators is up-to-date is important.
Implementation
Once finished with the prep work, investigators should make sure to provide updates of brochures, provide dates revisions of brochures, provide investigational product’s accountability documents, provide a curriculum vitae for new investigators, and provide informed consent forms. Throughout the trials, investigators should monitor trials and provide reports of progress. Investigators should also provide notification to governing authorities regarding serious events or emergencies that occur on site. At the close of the trial, researchers should provide governing bodies with investigation product accountability, closeout monitoring report, and a clinical study report.
Preparation And Implementation Insurance
Ultimately, clinical trial preparation and implementation are the insurance that ensures that the trials are completed with the most integrity. While it requires a lot of documentation and patience, those looking toward clinical trials will find this structured agenda a great guide. For a full explanation of conducting clinical trials, see Australia’s Department of Health And Ageing Guide on clinical trials.
Regardless of the season, the tick problem can be a major hassle for pet owners. Pets become miserable with the constant scratching and itching, and then there are issues related to the various diseases that are carried by these pests, including Lyme disease. As the weather cools down, pet owners will have the opportunity to regroup and reset in preparation of the warmer weather much later in the year.
In the meantime, pet owners can get the jump on how to protect their family pets from ticks. Both residential and commercial pest control companies provide consumers a wealth of information related to ridding their pets and homes of pests indigenous to Australia. Pet owners will be pleasantly surprised to find that many of these remedies can be done right at home.
Continue reading to learn how you can keep your indoor pets protected from ticks.
Daily Check-Ups
The first way you can help your pet is by being aware of the problem. Checking your pets for fleas daily can be a way to assess the problems. When diagnosing your pet for a tick problem, there are certain areas where ticks gravitate. Most ticks can be found behind the ears, around the eyelids, under the collar (if they wear one), under the front legs, between the back legs, around the tail, and between the toes. If you do find ticks in any of these areas, it is very important to remove them because your pets can become susceptible not only to tick bites but also to a number of diseases.
Reduce Habitat
Check your pet’s house or hangout areas for ticks. Ticks come into the home through a variety of methods, and while removing ticks from your pet daily can help, keeping the area and home very clean can reduce the incidence of ticks. Also, consider spraying around the pet’s space and the home to prevent pests from taking root in the home. Wash all bed linen, and if your home is carpeted, make sure to vacuum regularly.
Use Treatments
There are a number of treatments, topical and oral, that pet owners can purchase. Tick repellents can be applied on the coat and absorbed in the skin. Flea and tick collars also act as repellents as well, and with dogs, the best ones come in direct contact with the skin. There are also shampoos and dips that can effectively reduce ticks, and while shampoos are good, dips last a little bit longer. With cats, you want to consult with your vet before applying anything to their coat. Finally, if the problem gets out-of-control, take your pet to the vet to get a prescription for oral treatments.
Avoid Tick Hot Spots
While it would be easy to prevent your pet from being plagued by ticks by keeping them indoors, the reality is that pets like to get out in the sunshine and play, especially cats who are known for wandering the neighbourhood on their own. When taking Fido out for a stroll, pay attention to heavily wooded areas or areas with a lot of brush because these are areas where ticks breed. A simple remedy is to keep dogs on a leash.
Be Aware Of Carriers
Rodents and other pets are possible carriers of ticks, and if trying to squash a tick problem, pet owners have to monitor both. Rats and mice are indigenous to Australia, so pet owners can again reduce the tick traffic simply by ridding themselves of these pests. If you own other pets, keeping them tick-free can reduce the problem as well.
Ticked-Off Solutions
Next summer you won’t have to find yourself and your pet plagued with tick problems. By identifying and avoiding tick hot spots and carriers, your pets will not become vulnerable to a pest that can potentially cause problems. Daily check-ups, treatments, and cleanliness can be a factor in completely eliminating ticks from your pet’s life once and for all.
Growing a business requires long hours and steadfast determination. However, it can be difficult to strategize and make plans towards business expansion, whilst still trying to juggle the day to day tasks of running a business. Fortunately, there are a few simple solutions to help you step away from your daily tasks and focus on future expansion. Read on to find our tips and tricks for maintaining workflow while growing your business.
Small Business Accounting Software
Accounting processes and financial reporting are among the most time-consuming tasks for business owners to perform. Payroll, raising invoices, inventory tracking and bank reconciliation, are all tasks which greatly restrict the amount of hours a business owner can spend working towards expansion.
Small business accounting software is the simple and cost-effective solution to a business’ accounting woes. Leading financial and accounting software is capable of automating many of the tasks which take hours for small business owners to manually perform. Some of the time-consuming tasks that accounting software can expediently perform are:
Invoice Generation: Proper invoice management is essential to the success and growth of any small business. Without invoice management processes in place, small businesses suffer from depleted cash flow. This is a significant impediment to any business growth goals you may have in place.
Accounting software is capable of streamlining and automating the entire invoicing process. The software is able to email professional invoices to your clients immediately after a sale has been made. These online invoices provide your clients with an easy and safe online link for payment, enabling them to use all major payment providers including AMEX, Visa, MasterCard and BPAY. Automated invoicing allows you to step away from chasing up late-payments and sending batches of invoices to clients at the end of the month.
Financial Reports: A business that has its eyes set on expansion requires frequent and accurate financial data. This data is critical to securing an understanding of your business’ financial position and monitoring any highs and lows in your cash flow. Generating financial reports is incredibly time-consuming when performed manually. It is also easy for the human eye to miss or incorrectly input numbers; thereby threatening the accuracy of your entire data pool.
One of the key benefits of accounting software is that it is able to integrate with your existing systems and sales processes in order to generate automated financial reports. This saves you the time and effort involved in manually inputting data. It is also an incredibly helpful feature for any business looking towards expansion as it provides accurate, real-time data for any investors or outside entities to review.
Prepare Early
Early preparation is key when working towards growing your business. In order to maintain workflow while your business expands, it is essential to adequately prepare for the changes that growth will bring.
Many businesses fail to prepare early for increased growth and find their workflow suffering due to existing suppliers, processes and staff that are not adequately prepared for growth. It is therefore essential to prepare early by reviewing your current processes, staff and suppliers to ensure that your existing structure is sustainable for the future. Accounting software is also an important tool to utilise throughout this process. The software is capable of performing predictive analysis based on your live sales reports, providing you with data-driven statistics of your predicted growth.
Schedule your Day
When preparing to expand your business it is essential to vigilantly schedule your work day. This means setting aside designated hours of your day to pursue any leads or complete any work that is related to your business expansion plan.
Adhering to your schedule ensures that you set aside time every day to strategically prepare for your business’ growth. It also means that you can allocate other staff members accordingly to cover some of your other tasks during your set time period.
Preparing for business expansion is an exciting time for any small business owner. In order to secure the success of your business growth, it is important to prepare early and invest in leading software and tools to help you achieve your goals.
Machinery is the lifeblood of any manufacturing business. The ability for your equipment to operate without fail can be a bottom line issue. It has safety implications for your team as well. However, knowing when it’s time to repair or replace vital manufacturing equipment can be challenging for business owners.
Should I replace or repair? How much are repairs going to cost? What is the extended life of the equipment if I repair versus replacing? These are all important questions manufacturers need to ask. There are certainly benefits and pitfalls associated, but we are here to help. The following five machinery replacement essentials to consider can serve as your roadmap to efficiency and productivity. Let’s dive in!
1. Take a hard look at your
machinery equipment and maintenance schedule
The
costs involved with replacing or repairing machinery equipment are always at
the forefront when decisions need to be made by manufacturers. To most business
owners, replacing is a last step due to the price tag of new equipment. But the
opposite can be true in some cases.
You can get a good idea of potential equipment problems to come. Regular maintenance is good, and many manufacturers take preventive maintenance and care service (PMCS) seriously, doing it weekly. But there is also technology, like vibration sensor that can detect issues early, saving money and time down the road.
2. Don’t make assumptions when it
comes to repairs and replacements
Repairs
can add up pretty quickly on manufacturing equipment, since the specialization
and the parts needed to make repairs have a hefty price tag. And if you combine
that with multiple repairs over a fiscal year, and you have a big problem that
can negatively affect your bottom line. Instead of assuming repairs are best,
examine long-term repair costs versus replacement of the equipment. This will
give you a clear picture of what to do.
This is very true for new equipment that needs repair. In most cases, if the machinery equipment is relatively new, repairs may be the best option. Why? Because replacing new equipment with new equipment is not short-term budget friendly. On the other hand, if the equipment that is having issues is older, it may be time to call it a day and replace it.
3. Think about the loss of
production before making a decision
This is
an important machinery replacement essential to consider, because the workflow
and production you put out equals profits that are coming in. Depending on the
industry and type of machinery equipment you have in place, repairs can often
be done faster than physically replacing a unit. And since time is money,
you’ll need to do a bit of math.
Let’s
say a piece of equipment takes two weeks to replace, in order to meet state and
federal guidelines, as well as implementation standards of your company. This
two weeks will cost you $10,000 in production. However, repairing the equipment
will take three days, at a cost of $2000. The repair option is definitely more
cost effective.
4. Safety is a very important
consideration when it comes to machinery equipment
Considering safety should be the first thought when considering replacing or repairing machinery equipment. If equipment is not safe, you are putting the lives of your team in jeopardy. You will need to make a calculated judgement call and balance your bottom line with the safety of your operators.
You
also need to consider the safety of nearby equipment. For instance, if a piece
of machinery can damage other machinery in your manufacturing facility, the
costs of ignoring the problem can be far more dangerous and expensive down the
road. Think safety of team first, safety of surrounding equipment second, and
monetary cost third.
5. Consider the efficiency gain
with new machinery equipment in place
Every manufacturing CEO and facility manager knows that efficiency equals profits. The ability to crank out products faster can be a calling card for retaining current and future clients. This makes replacing problematic machinery a potential must-do. If you can increase efficiency by 25 percent by replacing a piece of machinery equipment, the sticker shock will pass as soon as profits increase. This is a very sustainable manufacturing essential to consider.
In conclusion . . .
Deciding
whether to repair or replace machinery equipment can weigh heavy on the mind.
It is expensive, time consuming, and has bottom line costs down the road. The
above five machinery replacement essentials to consider are not the be-all,
end-all, but they are among the most important considerations. Take a deeper
look at your equipment and make the right call.
You
cannot force yourself to think of a business idea right now and hope that
something will pop out of your mind that will appeal to a lot of people. It
takes time to come up with novel ideas and refine them to make people desire to
patronise what you offer. If you are still trying to search for a business
plan, you need to avoid putting limits on what you want to do. If possible, you
need to go big and work your way to having a perfect business plan from there.
Do
not strike down your ideas early on
Do
not feel afraid to come up with huge and crazy ideas. They are not the final
plans that you are going to implement anyway. Instead, start with big plans
before refining them, which is better than having something too small and
irrelevant that you have nothing new to offer by the time that you launch the
business.
Nothing
is impossible
If
successful business owners today who revolutionised the world thought that
their plans were impossible, we would not be enjoying their innovations. For
instance, if Zuckerberg had not thought about connecting college students
online, Facebook might not even exist today. If the pioneers of computing had
thought that automated devices were impossible, we would still do a lot of
things manually today. Always think that even seemingly impossible ideas are
worth a try.
Self-imposed
limits are a slippery slope
The
problem when you decide to limit your ideas from the start is that you begin to
think small. You dismiss your ideas immediately because you think they are not
worthy of doing. Before you know it, you start feeling discouraged. It is about
how you view the process that affects its success. If you keep telling yourself
that nothing works and all your plans are impossible, you will settle for
mediocrity.
The
final plan becomes lousy and does not spark excitement
The
reason why many big businesses succeeded is that they had solutions to huge
problems. People feel excited about learning what a company intends to solve.
Even investors begin to consider partnership because they know their money
could go a long way. However, if you keep limiting your ideas from the start,
your final plan could be lousy, irrelevant and not worth pursuing. You might
even be trying to do something that another company has already done. At that
point, you will not feel interested in starting the business anymore.
Who
cares if you fail?
Throw
all your ideas out there and find out which of them might work. No one expects
you to see all these plans come to life anyway. Even if you fail, it is okay.
You tried something new, and you can learn from it. Eventually, you might
decide to start a business, and you can use your previous mistakes to do
better. You will also not be afraid to fail anymore since you know how it
feels.
You
are the only one limiting your capabilities. Make sure that you do not limit
yourself with small thoughts when there is something big out there waiting for
you to discover it.
Regardless of the plan you come up with, you need to believe in it. Focus on advertising once you are ready to launch the business. Use a pop up stand and roller banners when you are trying to reach your target market so that they will know about your products and appreciate them.
At least 290 people died in Sri Lanka on Easter
Sunday in a wave of bombings that was carried out with the support of an international
network, officials said.
The Sri Lankan government has blamed a little-known local jihadist group,
National Thowheed Jamath, although no-one has yet admitted carrying out the
bombings.
Another 500 people were injured in the suicide attacks on churches and
hotels.
Twenty four people have been arrested in a series of raids and President Maithripala
Sirisena’s office declared a state of national emergency.
The state of emergency declaration, which comes into effect from midnight on
April 22, will give police and military extensive powers to detain and
interrogate suspects without court orders.
On April 22, another blast rocked a street near a church in the capital,
Colombo. Police were attempting to defuse explosives in a vehicle used by the
attackers when it blew up. It is not yet known if anyone was hurt.
Sri Lankan authorities were warned about a bomb threat from National
Thowheed Jamath a full two weeks before the attacks, cabinet spokesman Rajitha
Senaratne said at a press conference.
He said that the warnings were not passed on to PM Ranil Wickremesinghe or
his cabinet. The prime minister acknowledged that security services had been
“aware of information” but had not acted on the information.
Rajitha Senaratne said that authorities believed the bombers had
international support.
“We do not believe these attacks
were carried out by a group of people who were confined to this country,”
he said.
“There was an international
network without which these attacks could not have succeeded,” he
added.
A later statement said President Maithripala Sirisena would ask for foreign
help to track down the international links to the attackers.
“The intelligence reports that foreign terrorist organizations are behind the local terrorists. Therefore, the president is to seek the assistance of the foreign countries,” his office said.
A curfew is to be imposed from 20:00
April 22 until 04:00 on April 23, the government said. A national day of
mourning has been scheduled for April 23.
Sri Lanka’s National Security
Council said a “conditional state of emergency” from midnight would
target “terrorism” and would not limit freedom of expression.
In another development, the US State
Department issued revised travel advice urging greater caution, adding: “Terrorist groups continue plotting possible
attacks in Sri Lanka.”
The first reports of explosions came
at about 08:45 local time on April 21with six blasts reported within a small
space of time.
Three churches in Negombo,
Batticaloa and Colombo’s Kochchikade district were targeted during Easter
services. Blasts also rocked the Shangri-La, Kingsbury and Cinnamon Grand
hotels in the country’s capital, Colombo.
Police did not release a breakdown
of how many people were killed and wounded at each location.
All the attacks were carried out by
suicide bombers, officials said.
Police then carried out raids on two
addresses and there were explosions at both. One was in Dehiwala, southern
Colombo, and the other was near the Colombo district of Dematagoda in which
three officers were killed.
An improvised explosive device – a
6ft-long plastic pipe packed with explosives – was also found and defused near
the airport in Colombo.
Police also recovered 87 low-explosive detonators from the Bastian Mawatha private bus station in Pettah.
Comedian Volodymyr Zelensky has scored a landslide
victory in Ukraine’s presidential election.
With nearly all ballots counted in the run-off vote, Volodymyr Zelensky, 41,
had taken more than 73% with incumbent Petro Poroshenko trailing far behind on
24%.
He told celebrating supporters: “I
will never let you down.”
Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev commented in a Facebook post that Russia wants
Volodymyr Zelensky to show “sound judgement”, “honesty” and
“pragmatism” so that relations can improve. Russia backs separatists
in eastern Ukraine.
He said he expected Volodymyr Zelensky to “repeat familiar ideological
formulas” that he used in the election campaign, adding: “I have no illusions on that score.
“At the same time, there is a
chance to improve relations with our country.”
Petro Poroshenko, who admitted defeat after the first exit polls were
published, has said he will not be leaving politics.
He told voters that Volodymyr Zelensky was too inexperienced to stand up to
Russia effectively.
Volodymyr Zelensky, a political novice, is best known for starring in a satirical
TV series Servant of the People, in
which his character accidentally becomes Ukrainian president.
The comedian told reporters he would “reboot” peace talks with the
separatists fighting Ukrainian forces and volunteers in the east.
He said: “I think that we will
have personnel changes. In any case we will continue in the direction of the
Minsk [peace] talks and head towards concluding a ceasefire.”
There are sporadic skirmishes and the situation also remains tense around Crimea, annexed from Ukraine by Russia in 2014.
Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan
chairman and CEO, has been indicted by Japan’s prosecutors on a fresh charge of
aggravated breach of trust.
It is the fourth charge brought
against Carlos Ghosn and relates to the alleged misuse of company funds.
Carlos Ghosn is in detention in
Tokyo and his lawyers have applied for bail.
The 65-year-old, who denies any
wrongdoing, has said the allegations are a result of a plot against him.
Carlos Ghosn was first arrested in
November and spent 108 days in custody. While out on bail pending a trial, he
was re-arrested in Tokyo on April 4.
Japanese prosecutors allege that
Carlos Ghosn made a multi-million-dollar payment to a Nissan distributor in
Oman, and that as much as $5million was funneled to an account controlled by
him.
Nissan has filed its own criminal
complaint against Carlos Ghosn, accusing him of directing money from the
company for his own personal enrichment.
Carlos Ghosn was first charged with
under-reporting his pay package for the five years to 2015.
In January, a new charge claimed he
understated his compensation for another three years. He was also indicted on a
fresh, more serious charge of breach of trust.
The case has put a spotlight on fighting
within Nissan alliance and on Japan’s legal system.
Carlos Ghosn was the architect of
the alliance formed between Japan’s Nissan and French auto maker Renault, and
brought Mitsubishi on board in 2016.
He is credited with turning around
the fortunes of Nissan and Renault over several years.
Earlier this month Carlos Ghosn said the allegations were a plot and conspiracy against him, accusing Nissan executives of backstabbing.
