Working In Insurance: 6 Pro Tips To Starting A Career In Insurance

The insurance industry in the U.S. employed at least 2.8 million people, according to a 2019 survey. With the projected growth in the insurance industry, a career in this sector is worth pursuing. You have several options when it comes to careers in insurance.

From underwriters to actuaries, the insurance sector has interesting careers. With most of these occupations, the path is almost the same. If you’re starting a career in insurance, you might want to be specific to have a clear view.

Are you interested in working in insurance? If yes, you’re on the right track. Here are 6 pro tips to kickstart a career in insurance.

1. Define Your Career Goal.

The insurance sector is quite broad. It’s not enough to state that you want to work in the industry. You have to be specific, as each goal will necessitate you to take a specific path.

You can pursue a career as a claims examiner, insurance underwriter, sales agent, and claims adjuster. Occupations such as being an insurance lawyer are part of the industry despite working in non-insurance companies. You don’t have to limit yourself to insurance careers that are directly related to the sector.

Establishing a specific career early in advance will give you adequate headway. You’ll be in a better position to map out a path that will lead you to your goal.

2. Get Relevant Education.

You will need a graduate degree or high school diploma to work in insurance. The different insurance careers have diverse education requirements, with some occupations such as sales agents requiring less formal education. For actuaries, you’ll need a degree in statistics or math.

For careers such as claims adjuster, claims examiner, and policy processing clerk, a high school diploma is the main requirement. Most of these positions will be entry-level. You might need to advance your education to develop your career.

With the ever-increasing professional standards in the insurance sector, career development will be for your advantage. You can consider an advanced diploma or degree to compete favorably among your peers. Advancing in your education will be the first step towards growing in this promising industry.

3. Evaluate Your Skills.

Just like in most industries, working in insurance has its challenges. You need to have a set of skills to enable you to deal with the problems you encounter. The skills will further help you to perform optimally in the sector.

Customer service is one of the skills that you’ll need, whether you’re working as an underwriter or a claims manager. You’ll be negotiating with clients, and exceptional customer service is undebatable. In occupations such as actuaries where you’re not interacting with customers directly, the skill will enable you to have a fruitful interaction with your colleagues.

Numeracy skills are central to insurance careers. While some of the occupations have a higher demand for mathematics abilities, others will only need you to have basic knowledge of numbers. The savvier you are with numbers, the easier it will be to integrate into most of these careers.

4. Increase Your Visibility.

Working in insurance means that your roles are likely to revolve around people. Therefore, it would help to increase your visibility through various social networking sites. The growing online engagements will ensure that you interact with the right people, which is a plus in your career growth.

About 94% of businesses are creating content through LinkedIn. This platform promotes networking, engagement, and content creation.

Using LinkedIn will have significant impacts on your career visibility. You can also take advantage of other sites such as Facebook and Twitter to connect and sell your services.

Offline networking is equally essential. Research to know if there are any insurance events that you can attend. You’ll meet hundreds of firms and professionals, which makes events an ideal networking platform.

5. Get Professional Designation.

You’ll only require a license when working as an adjuster, broker, or agent. Professional bodies and other industry regulators often govern the issuance of licenses. Whether your role requires you to have licenses or certifications, getting professional designation should be the priority of any student who is starting a career in insurance.

A professional designation is a sort of approval that you get from an organization to show that you’ve achieved a great standard of excellence in your work. If you are a student, completing the professional designation now will increase your marketability in any insurance career. You don’t have to wait until when you’re working in insurance to start making moves towards career advancement.

It would be best to take advantage of any opportunity to advance your career. Many employers provide tuition assistance and bonuses to their workers to work on their professional education. Whichever roles you’re playing, there’s always a chance to advance.

6. Research to Insurance Employers.

Are you wondering how to start a career in insurance? Employment is an ideal starting point. You’ll learn several skills and make useful networks.

It will be easier to start an independent insurance firm when you have been an employee in an insurance company. With the variety of insurance companies available, research each to know which resonates with your career plans. You can start your search on sites such as indeed.com and other social networking sites.

In your job application, ensure that you mention your education, experience, and goals to demonstrate how you’re the best fit for the position. You can be sure that you won’t be the only applicant, and leaving things for a potential employer’s imagination will be a disfavor to you.

Working in Insurance Has a Variety of Perks.

Insurance careers are incredibly broad. You’re either working directly in an insurance firm or companies with no direct relationship to insurance. The critical bit is that you’ll have a variety of options if you choose to follow a career path in insurance.

Working in insurance will offer several opportunities and benefits that go beyond a paycheck. It would help to research more on insurance career information. Knowledge of what to expect in the field will guide you accordingly.

Please explore our site for more career and business-related content.

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Trust And Transparency: Keys To Renewal In Reentry

by Adam Markel, author of “Pivot: The Art and Science of Reinventing Your Career and Life“

The new phase that we’re entering is almost like a spaceship coming back to Earth. We are reentering mid-pandemic. People are wearing masks at work, not able to huddle up physically even if they’re in the same office.

People accustomed to seeing each other daily for long periods have been apart and changed due to their unique circumstances. How organizations handle reentry and reunion will help determine how resilient they are going forward.

Here are some principles for successful reentry:

1. Create a New Credo.

As a 19-year-old lifeguard on Long Island, I was part of a team that searched for a swimmer who went missing in the heavy surf. We never found the missing swimmer. Afterwards, the lifeguards adopted a new motto: “No one goes down in our water. You either make the save, or you die trying.”

Today, I advise companies and teams to adopt a similar credo to strengthen individual and collective resilience: “Got your back.”

2. Embrace Real Feedback.

Encourage people to ask and answer questions such as: What’s working for me? What’s not working for me? What could be done differently?

Feedback, including feedback on how teams are being managed, is important on re-entry. When people are given an open invitation to be transparent, and feel emotionally safe to express themselves freely, that builds trust.”

3. Build Resilience Rituals Into Your Culture.

Management should establish support systems to help employees build resilience and integrate those into company culture. This could include encouraging employees to practice mindfulness and take breaks, as well as organized training programs that should be “tangible, meaningful, and show people what the organization stands for.

4. Reevaluate Everything.

There should be no sacred cows. It may have worked in February and stopped working in March. Every procedure, standard, value, or battle cry of the past should be up for some form of reevaluation.

5. Acknowledge and Support Employees Suffering Loss and Grief.

There are a lot of people who have been traumatized by this pandemic — who have lost friends and family members. They will need kindness and patience and understanding as we re-form bonds and redefine what success means and what performance looks like.

6. Create Ways to Celebrate Together.

When I look back at my time as a lifeguard, even though it was a serious environment, we laughed and joked and smiled. We kidded each other and challenged each other, and we celebrated together after the day’s job was done. That kind of camaraderie builds serious bonds, and cannot be overlooked.

Everyone has been changed in some way by the pandemic, and everyone needs resilience to survive and thrive in a state of constant change.

Resilience is a hard skill that will help us to deal individually and collectively with the challenges we face upon reentry as well as those challenges we face down the road.

 

Author, speaker, and resilience expert Adam Markel inspires leaders and organizations to build resilience into their lives and systems to meet the challenges of massive disruption. Adam is author of the #1 Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and Publisher’s Weekly best-seller, “Pivot: The Art and Science of Reinventing Your Career and Life“.

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How Glass Display Cabinets Can Improve Your In-Store Sales

Selling in a shop takes more effort than some people realise. Without the right displays and fixtures, or with a poor layout, you could risk losing a lot of potential sales. That’s why finding the right cabinets and shelving units is going to make all the difference in your profits. Glass display cabinets, in particular, can do a lot for a variety of retail establishments. There are several types of cabinets and they come in all shapes and sizes, making it the perfect choice to keep things safe and show them off all at once.

One of the biggest perks today, of course, is the sanitation factor and keeping things in a no-touch environment as much as possible. Considering the global COVID-19 pandemic, everyone is looking for safer ways to shop and shopkeepers are looking for ways to create a safer space for everyone involved. Keeping items behind glass makes it easy for everyone to see what you have to offer but keeps them from wanting to touch each item individually. Then, you’ll only need to sanitise and clean the cases and displays regularly, and never have to worry about people freely touching things and having to sanitise your entire inventory regularly.

Displays Go Beyond Protection.

Of course, now that we’ve covered the most important use of glass display cabinets, we can discuss their potential benefits otherwise. For starters, glass displays offer a secure option for high-dollar items and a well-lit space for items that contain a lot of detail or that require a unique display to create the most visual appeal. Here are just a few other ways that glass displays can help improve your sales:

Increased Inherent Value.

Your customers will assign value to everything in your shop, regardless of its price tag. When you keep items behind glass, they automatically are assumed to be more expensive or somehow worthier of this type of display. Therefore, people may be more inclined to make a purchase simply because they feel like they’re getting a better product.

Increased Customer Engagement.

One sure-fire way to increase your sales is to improve your customer interactions. When people feel like they are being valued and appreciated, they are likely to spend more and remain brand-loyal, even if the products are more expensive or the store is out of their way. By keeping items in glass cases, you’ll have to get them for the customer, giving you a guaranteed chance to interact with them.

Better Organisation.

No one likes a cluttered, messy store. Shelving units are great, but they tend to look cluttered or create chaos in some cases. With glass displays, you can carefully organise your inventory and show it off with ease. People will be more likely to buy because they can see everything and find what they want when things are organised and in order.

Reduced Security Risks and Loss Prevention Issues.

Theft is one of the biggest factors that negatively affect the bottom line for any retail store today. Shops lose thousands of dollars in merchandise to theft every year, and often it’s due to a lack of appropriate displays or protective cases. With glass display cases, you can keep expensive items secured so that you can spend your time with genuine customers and not watching for potential thieves.

Ultimately, there is a lot that you can do with glass display cabinets, no matter what kind of shop you own. Just remember to think about your intended goals when choosing your displays and the right pieces will come along to help you increase sales by changing the way you showcase your products.

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Want To Know What To Sell Online? See Top Selling Items On Amazon

Amazon is a massive marketplace that offers zillions of goods in different types of categories. From toys and stationery to floor steamers and automotive parts, you can offer or buy anything on this platform, no wonder it is the biggest online retailer. However, before you launch an item, you should consider if it something the consumers want so that you can earn high income through it.

The best way to do this is by analyzing the best selling items on Amazon using great tools like IO Scout. 

IO Scout is one of the best tools on the market. Their toolset consist from: 

1. Product finder 
2. Product tracker
3. Product trends
4. Keyword scout
5. Listing builder
6. Chrome extension
7. FBA calculator
8. Sales estimator

Get your 62,5% IO Scout special offer for all tools above and become a rockstar Amazon seller!

Do you want to know how to find top selling products on Amazon? Keep reading the article.

Top Selling Amazon Products and Categories.

Below are some of the best categories and items. All the ratings listed below are the ratings of the items as of now and they may change over time.

• Electronics
• Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry
• Toys and Games

Electronics.

This is among the categories that are most popular on Amazon mainly because people are now getting obsessed with technology and electronic items such as gadgets are in high demand these days.

If we look into this category, some of the top Amazon products include Alexa TV media player which has a rating of 4.5, Alexa smart speaker, and Fire 7 Tablet that supports Alexa. If you pay attention, you will see that all these top 3 items are sold by Amazon itself so the competition is quite tough in this category.

Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry.

T-Shirts are never out of fashion while Crocs shoes are now a trend. The top items in this category include Carhartt Men’s T-shirt with 4.5 stars from 12,131 ratings and CROC Casual Water Shoes with 4.8 stars from 44,893 ratings.

Toys and Games.

This is another in-demand category these days with a lot of potential because a lot of kids now buy their favorite stuff from Amazon. You will see top items in this category include items as simple as a pack of balloons with self-sealing technology by Bunch O Balloons. Other items include Intex inflatable Water Float with 4.5 stars and Toddlers’ pool by SplashEZ.

Characteristics of Best Selling Products.

Below are some characteristics that an item must possess to generate high profit.

Enhanced Version of an Existing Item.

If you are looking to launch a top item, one of the best ways is to offer consumers’ a better version of the item than what is offered by your competitors. This can be done by digging into consumers’ reviews of an item you are interested in and analyzing what consumers want to be improved. You can then modify your goods with those features.

High Amount of Daily Sales.

You should always choose an item that has the potential to generate daily sales of at least 10-units because that would mean it is something consumers are looking for so it will bring you high profits. This would also mean that your item will have a better BSR and it is not seasonal so you can expect to generate high sales throughout the year. To estimate the daily sales of an item, you can analyze the sales of other similar items sold by your competitors. However, you should avoid picking an item that is already offered by too many merchants or by 2-3 well-known and trusted brands because it will be quite difficult for you to gain consumers’ attention.

Light in Weight.

Most beginners look for an item that doesn’t require a lot of investment. If you are one of them, you should look for lightweight and small items because such items have less fulfillment fees and other costs such as referral fees, etc. You should also try to choose an item that is not easily breakable so there are less chances of it getting damaged. Also, consider if the items you are picking can be manufactured easily.

Using IO Scout to Find Best Items.

IO Scout is an outstanding tool for merchants that let them discover the right item with the capacity to generate high income. With the ability to scan over 150 million amazon goods, this toolset gives you key details of items so you can analyze them and decide if they are worth selling.

To find best selling goods in a category https://ioscout.io/product-finder you just choose your desired category and you will get a long list of items with their real-time info such as sales and ratings, etc. You can then examine these stats to figure out the potential of a particular item.

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Franchising Doesn’t Have To Break The Bank

Depending on which franchise you look at, start-up costs can be daunting.

Some of the most popular food chains have major requirements to be a franchisee, and it can be difficult for some to reach.

After seeing some of the costs, you might think that opening a burger franchise is a bad choice, but it doesn’t have to be that way. They key to your success is finding and investing in the right franchise.

Wayback Burgers is a fast-casual food chain, focusing on freshly made burgers, sandwiches and hand-dipped milkshakes. They’ve expanded to over 500 contracted locations across 38 countries, including 166 operating in 31 states in the U.S. Keeping their startup costs low has really allowed the brand to expand.

For comparison, McDonald’s requires an initial investment of between $1,058,000 and $2,230,000. That doesn’t take into account that you have to undergo up to 18 months of training before purchasing, and there may not be a restaurant available in your area.

Wendy’s requires a total investment of $2,000,000 to $3,500,000, and that doesn’t include having to show $2 million in liquid assets.

Burger King’s investment ranges from $316,100 to $2,660,600. Hardee’s can put you back between $1,426,600 and $1,949,000. Culver’s is one of the most expensive franchises regardless of industry, going between $1,815,000 and $4,273,000.

However, Wayback requires liquid capital of at least $100,000, with a total initial investment of $209,000 to $524,500. Their smaller restaurant footprint means lower real estate costs, which contributes to less overhead on a long-term basis as well.

There are many benefits to taking the Wayback approach. In addition to having a more accessible initial investment, Wayback Burgers is a fresh brand that offers a tasty twist on the classic staples. Guests often have multiple fast food options to choose from, such as McDonald’s or Burger King, in a small radius, but want something different. They still want something quick, but also want quality. One of the key benefits of opening a fast casual franchise like Wayback Burgers is the opportunity to stand out in your marketplace. By offering a unique classic for guests who want something familiar but different, you are meeting the needs of consumers in your area.

Because the cost of entry is lower, it’s also easier to expand. Once you build out your first restaurant, it is easier to expand to other areas. Depending on the exact startup cost, you could potentially open 10 Wayback Burger restaurants for the cost of one McDonald’s.

Lower startup costs have other advantages. You get the security of knowing you’re getting a proven concept, with a clear eye of what startup and future costs will be, along with a network of fellow franchisees to learn from. That means you know what type of profit you can make, when you’ll get back your investment and how much money you can make in the long run. That security makes it easier to put up the cash needed to start. And when that cash entry is lower, it makes that much easier to get started.

Startup costs can seem intimidating. But there’s no reason to go for a franchise with an inordinate level of startup cash. A lower level of investment can still help you achieve your goals.

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How Individuals Are Turning To Franchising For Business Success

Success in the franchise space is attainable to all. After all, it provides a proven business model, a dedicated following of fans, nationwide support and much more. It’s why one out of every 12 small businesses in America is a franchise, and why a new franchise opens every eight minutes. You’ll know how long it will take to become profitable and you can lean on a network of fellow franchisees who have had success with the brand to learn best practices. Guests are already familiar with the brand, meaning it’s easier and faster to become ingrained in the community.

There are also tremendous opportunities for growth and expansion that may not be available in other models. With so many to choose from across multiple industries, there is surely a franchising model that fits your interests and skill sets.

The franchise model has been a great success for several businesspersons.

Wayback Burgers, a burger franchise, has offered that same level of success to countless entrepreneurs.

There’s Karen Schmitz, who operates a Wayback Burgers, in Woodbury, Minn. She wanted a family-friendly vibe that called back to the glory days of malt shops from the ‘50s. And she wanted the food to be good and freshly made. She considered Wayback to be a throwback, back to when food was made properly and restaurants were pillars of the community. She was able to check off both boxes with Wayback. “It was a no-brainer,” she said. “We have received such incredible support from the corporate leadership team.”

Another person who has seen success with Wayback is Tanya Bathija in Mastic Beach, New York. A second-generation franchisee, and just 29, Bathija is the part-owner of this Wayback location.

Learning from her father, a long-time franchisee of multiple brands, Bathija is hoping to use Wayback to walk in his footsteps.

“We envisioned that there was no burger place in the area,” she said. Wwe looked at Five Guys and Johnny Rockets, but felt Wayback was the best decision to go with. It’s not fast food. It takes a little longer to cook, but it’s all fresh. I definitely wanted to bring that to this town. People come in for real food rather than fast food.”

Jackie and Scott Ammerman were addicted to Wayback Burgers — Scott loved it even more than his wife’s home cooking. Because of that passion, they decided to see if they could open their own franchise location. They already loved the food—meeting the organization sold them that a franchise was the right decision. “I was impressed with their enthusiasm, commitment to quality and customer service,” she said. “We received excellent training from the team members. Plus, they shared their detailed, proven support system for franchisees, letting me know their focus was on our success first.”

The couple now owns multiple locations in Georgia and South Carolina.

Franchising can bring significant success to those who choose to embark on that journey. Joining the Wayback Burgers community is one franchise choice that can help you achieve your goals.

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Three Tips And Tricks For Your New Start-Up

There is an incredible amount of do’s and don’ts, if you want to start your own company. Oftentimes the road to a successful start-up can be tough and long, and a lot of people give up on their way to success.

In this article we will give you who have the courage and ambitions to launch your own company three simple tips and tricks as to how you can accomplish success.

Be agile and ready for change.

If you have started your own company and wish for it to become a success, it is of vital importance that you are agile and ready for change. This means that you should always be willing to grab any possibility that might offer itself. There are a lot of ways to do that, however first and foremost you need to make sure that you or a business partner can reach a meeting if it can secure your company a great deal.

This means that you as an example should not say no to travel from one part of the country to another, if the deal can be important for the company.

One of the ways to be more agile and ready for change is by making sure you have a vehicle. It does not have to be anything special, but if you want to ride with style you can look at the options for e.g. leasing of Mercedes cars.

Find a gap in the market.

One of the most important pieces of advice when it comes to entrepreneurs starting their own company is to find a gap in the market. It is not viable to create a start-up that offers or produces something that already exists thousands of in the market. You would just become a drop in the ocean, and there would likely be a group of producers and companies who sits on the majority of the market shares.

Think of something that is missing in society. Is there a specific that e.g. the leasing companies have overseen, that you can utilize and offer? Or are there some gadgets that have not yet been introduced but might be a goldmine for you?

Be ready for uncertainty.

Only a few entrepreneurs experience success from day one. You need to be ready to take a bunch of beatings and uncertainty before you or your company experience glory. There are actually a lot of successful entrepreneurs that already experienced bankruptcy or no success with their previous companies.

You should be ready to work hard before you can enjoy the results of your success.

 

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Knowing Your Different Loan Options When Starting Your Own Business

Starting your own business can be incredibly rewarding and should be encouraged, but obviously 2020 has not been a normal year and those that have only recently started/have plans to start will have obvious concerns surrounding the pandemic.

While you need to be careful in these strange times, it is also important to be aware that there are a handful of options in terms of financial relief available which could help you to survive.

Business Interruption Loan.

The most obvious lifeline during this challenging time is the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). The CBILS loan scheme provides financial support to small businesses that are losing revenue as a result of the pandemic and can provide key funding in a time where cash flow is an issue for many businesses.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Another Government financial support scheme in the UK is the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This scheme is designed to protect jobs and allows businesses to furlough staff in the short term while still receiving 80% of wages covered by a Government grant.

Bank Loans.

Bank loans are a good source of funding and you may be able to find low-interest rates if you have a good credit rating, plus this option means that you will not have to give up any control of the business.

Crowdfunding.

Crowdfunding has been on the rise in recent years and it is easy to see why. This allows you to raise significant capital from the general public via the internet where people can either invest a small amount in return for a stake in the business or lend you the money (peer-to-peer lending). It will require a fair amount of work convincing people to contribute, but it can also be a good source of publicity and be useful for improving brand awareness around the world.

Angel Investors.

Angel investors provide funding for your business in exchange for a share in the company which means that often they bring expertise and contacts to the company. The downside is that you do give up some control and it can be challenging to convince someone to invest.

Venture Capitalists.

Venture capitalists are those that provide significant financial backing in exchange for equity in the business. Typically, they only invest in those with high growth opportunity but their expertise and mentoring can be invaluable for new business owners.

These are the best options that a new business has in terms of funding and financial relief during COVID-19. The pandemic has made it challenging for all types of businesses, but with funding and intelligence, it should be possible to find some success both now and in the long-term.

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Applying Innovation To Modern Bathroom Tech

The bathroom is often forgotten during remodeling. Given the ongoing pandemic, bathrooms should perhaps get more attention than they were previously getting. Studies have shown that bathrooms are home to millions of colony-forming units, the highest bacterial levels in any house.

These microorganisms can be transferred from one person to another, leading to illnesses. The risk of transfer is even higher for public restrooms. Fortunately, these dangers can be minimized by applying modern technology. This article looks at innovative ways to reduce the health risks associated with bathrooms.

Anti-Graffiti Bathroom Partitions.

For some reason, some people can’t resist the urge to leave a comment or drawing on public bathroom stalls. While these “bathroom graffiti artists” might find it funny, it makes cleaning washrooms that much more difficult. Anti-graffiti bathroom partitions are designed to make the removal of graffiti from bathroom walls easier. Here are the types you can expect to find from a bathroom partition distributor:

Phenolic Partitions – These are made of layers of paper coated with a phenolic resin. The resin gives the partition its water-resistant property. These partitions can be easily cleaned with a soft brush, detergent, and water.

HPDE Partitions – High-density polyethylene (HPDE) is a suitable bathroom partition because they are durable and resistant to both scratches and graffiti. In addition to their strength, high-density polyethylene cannot be affected by humidity. These types of partitions are low maintenance and only require regular cleaning.

Plastic Laminates – These are made of particleboards core and given a plastic surface finish. The lamination ensures that water runs off, protecting the inner board. They are cheaper, stain-resistant, and easy to maintain. However, they are not scratch proof and can be affected by high humidity.

Stainless Steel Partitions – Steel partitions are easy to clean and are the most durable. They can be cleaned using a damp piece of cloth, and some detergent provided to the cleaners are neither alkali nor acidic. You can opt for zinc powder-coated steel partitions for extra protection.

Touchless Technology.

The bathroom is known as the most germ-infested area in any building. That risk doubles when a washroom is shared by an entire office floor. Touchless technology prevents both contact and droplet transmission.

Faucets – These are an excellent example of where transmission occurs. Traditional taps fail miserably at their sole purpose, which is to keep hands clean. After thoroughly scrubbing your hands, one still has to turn off the tap, ending up with more germs than in the beginning. Touchless faucets can be turned on and off by simple hand movements. The motion sensors then automatically open the tap without any physical contact.

Hand Dryers – These are the next bacterial breeding grounds in a public washroom. Hand towel dispensers are not entirely touchless. The solution is to replace them with automatic hand dryers. They can be switched on by moving the wet hand under the nozzle. In addition to touchless drying, modern hand dryers have an in-built air filtration system that ensures the air is cleaned before it reaches the hand.

Soap Dispensers – Another opportunity to utilize touchless technology is for soap dispensers. Just like the faucet, soap dispensers are touched by everyone walking into the bathroom. In addition to preventing germ transmission, an electronic soap dispenser reduces the wastage of product, cutting the cost of cleaning supplies. You can take the touchless theme a step further by installing automatic flashing and lighting.

Environment Control.

Proper air conditioning and ventilation are paramount in the bathroom. Unbearable temperatures and high humidity are a recipe for disaster. They not only result in repulsive odors, but also make maintenance and cleaning a nightmare.

Here are modern innovations that can make a big difference in the bathroom:

Ventilation – Besides air conditioning, bathrooms require an exhaust fan. The fan is for removing foul smells and controlling the humidity. The moisture build-up after showers can cause mold growth or damage the wall paint. Modern bathroom exhaust fans come with a humidity sensor that automatically takes over a pre-set humidity level. Exhaust fans can be mounted on the wall or the ceiling. The musty air from the bathroom is transported outside through a system of air vents. Ductless fans use charcoal filters to remove odors and humidity from rooms with no air vents such as basements and attics.

Odor Control – Air fresheners are a common odor control device in many homes, but not as effective as air dispensers. Unlike traditional air fresheners, modern air neutralizers do not just mask foul bathroom odors. These air dispensers automatically spray particles that break down the scent at a molecular level. They can work continuously for 60 days, after which they can be refilled. To eliminate all smells from a bathroom, you should consider installing a urinal screen as well. It is very effective in reducing the suffocating smell of uric acid in urinal stalls.

Smart Toilets.

Technology has revolutionized all spheres of our lives, and that includes the toilets. Smart toilets come with additional features to improve your bathroom experience. In addition to the convenience, they also use far less water than conventional predecessors. The following are standard features in smart toilets:

Automatic Flushing – This is a primary feature in all smart toilets. Motion sensors trigger automatic flushing when the user moves away from the bowl. It is followed by the automatic closing of the lid.

Night Light – A lot can go wrong when you are fumbling in the dark. The night light automatically comes on when the bathroom becomes dark.

Eco-Friendliness – Before installing a smart toilet, take a look at both the power rating and water usage. Smart toilets don’t come cheap. They can increase your utility bills as well.

Self-Cleaning – Smart toilets have a single-flush or dual-flush setting. Some smart bathrooms come with a robotic arm that helps scrub the toilets. Additional self-cleaning features include a UV light and a deodorizer.

Seat Warmers – This feature spares one the discomfort of having to sit on an ice-cold toilet seat. You set the exact temperature you want.

Modern Showers and Tubs.

Modern gizmos can quickly transform an ordinary shower into a high-end spa. The following is a list of contemporary technologies that redefine the bathroom experience:

Entertainment – Waterproof speakers and bathroom TVs now make it possible to enjoy your favorite tunes or catch up on a show while enjoying a soak. These devices can be connected to other tools for uninterrupted entertainment. Some showerheads come with a built-in speaker for a fun showering experience.

Eco-Drains – This technology uses the heat from the dirty water to reheat the colder clean water. It can help reduce your power bills and save the environment at the same time.

Soaking Tubs – Modern tubs are multi-functional, smaller, and water-conscious. They come with touchless faucets and mood lighting. Some models are capable of massaging the user through a system of air jets. It mimics the sensation felt in a hot spring.

Smart Showers – With modern showers, it is possible to control the temperature and pressure of a bath without leaving the bed. It eliminates the need to preheat the shower.

Takeaways.

The smart home market is projected to reach $76 billion by 2024. As the demand for smart homes rises, modern bathrooms will become a central feature in these futuristic homes. In anticipation of this growing need, commercial properties should begin incorporating advanced technologies in bathrooms. In addition to reducing the transmission of bacteria, modern bathrooms minimize water wastage and increase energy efficiency. They are important selling points as we continue to face the threat of global warming and pandemics.

Indeed, smart homes are still out of reach for most people. Something as simple as anti-graffiti partitions can make a big difference in terms of cleaning and maintenance. Hopefully, this article compels you to give your bathroom a much-needed facelift.

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4 In Demand Products During This Time Of Pandemic

COVID-19 has paved the way for the “new normal”, wherein people adopt new ways of meeting physical, social, and economic needs. Personal protective equipment (PPE) are now being routinely used to ensure health and safety, virtual shopping is at an all-time high due to qurantine and lockdown, and physical interactions have been limited to mobile and online platforms.

There are products that have become in demand because of the current pandemic, primarily because there have been drastic changes concerning consumer needs. People now prioritize products and services that allow them to continue working and doing business despite the health crisis. So, what are the in demand products during this time of pandemic that both budding and seasoned entrepreneurs may want to consider manufacturing or distributing?

These are some of those:

1. Medical Products.

It is obvious that the most in demand products during these trying times are related to the medical or healthcare industry. The demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical devices has especially skyrocketed.

Manufacturing medical devices involves various materials and processes, including plastic injection molding. It’s a manufacturing process wherein medical-grade molten plastic is injected as base material into a mold in order to produce parts of medical devices, laboratory equipment, and healthcare facility equipment.

Medical industry manufacturers and suppliers can benefit from the injection molding manufacturing process because of its cost-efficiency. Also, this process has exceptional accuracy, durability, and contaminant resistance. Check here for more details on injectiion molding.

Check out the following in demand medical products:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Some examples of PPE include face shields, face masks, and lab gowns. These PPE products are used to avoid and contain viruses, such as coronavirus. During the first two months of the COVID-19 outbreak, the demand for face masks and alcohol increased dramatically because a lot of people were panic buying. And, even with the new normal, PPE products will remain in demand.

Laboratory Supplies And Equipment: Rapid testing kits, syringes for drawing blood samples, and other laboratory supplies and equipment are also soought-after as these help diagnose and monitor patients with COVID-19.

Assistive Devices: Global Market Insights, Inc. estimates in their recent report that medical products will have a very high global market valuation, crossing 30 billion US dollars by 2026. One of the significant factors that boost this specific demand is the growing geriatric or aging population. Assistive products include wheelchairs, bed safety rails, and bathroom assistive devices.

2. Electronic Devices.

Lockdown and community quarantine have increased the demand for electronic devices because people are restricted from performing outdoor activities. More people are spending their time indoors and turn to indoor entertainment to meet psychological and social needs.

Check out the following electronic products that are in demand today:

Smart TV: One way to combat social isolation is getting entertained at home through watching TV. A smart TV enables you to do social media streaming, gives you access to tons of online workouts, as well as allows you to play games and even create videos. All these things are possible because a smart TV can be connected to Wi-Fi or any Internet source to access certain apps, like YouTube and Netflix.

AI Speakers Or AI Assistive Devices: Aside from watching TV, many people resort to online shopping. That’s why artificial intelligence is an in demand technology nowadays, and more and more people are using AI products for greater convenience. Some examples include AI assistive devices, such as Alexa and Siri.

Mobile Devices: Shopping and paying bills online are more convenient using mobile devices. More people prefer to stay at home and use their mobile devices to complete business transactions.

Computers: Both Best Buy and Stables said that there have been a surge in the sales of work-from-home products, such as laptops, keyboards, and computer monitors, since the COVID-19 outbreak. Many students and professionals have been forced to create home offices or study areas to finish tasks and comply with requirements.

3. Digital Products.

Digital products, like business management software, cloud-based data storage systems, and communication apps, are also in demand.

Here are some of the most in demand digital products today:

ERP Software: Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is a business management tool with customer relationship management capabilities, human resource (HR) features, as well as sales and marketing and employee management tools. Software as a service (SaaS) is an integral part of ERP that businesses use nowadays to stay automated, competitive, and thriving. Being able to offer such products, along with using remote hosted desktops, can provide enormous revenue during this pandemic crisis.

Communication Apps: Because remote or online communication is crucial during this time of pandemic, app developers develop new apps and enhance existing ones to appeal to their target audience. Some popular examples of communication apps include Skype, Slack, Basecamp, and Zoom. These apps are used by teams to collaborate and pitch sales through digital channels. Being able to offer better communication apps can provide promising revenues for app developers and companies.

E-Learning Tools: Electronic learning or e-learning tools are utilized by educational institutions to be able to offer online classes and courses. Also, companies are using them to onboard new hires and even for continuous learning. Web developers and IT companies can offer e-learning tools to supply the digital needs that private organizations and governments immensely need.

4. Product Shipping Packaging Products.

Because the e-commerce industry is working at its peak during this COVID-19 pandemic, more and more companies are sourcing for more reliable and cost-effective shipping packaging products, such as carton boxes, bubble wraps, and liquid containers, as well as packaging tapes, product labels, and adhesives. Businesses can manufacture these products to fill in the needs and demands of various businesses.

Check out these shipping packaging product considerations:

• Understand the design and manufacturing process, including the packaging layers and prototyping.
• Gather feedback as to the most sought shipping packaging products used by manufacturers or factories, fufillment centers, carriers, and the overall e-commerce industry.
• Shipping packaging should possess long-term sustainability and greater functionality. It should provide utmost protection to intended goods, withstanding pressure, temperature, and other environmental factors affecting product state during transport and logistics.
• Ensure high-quality material sources, such as medical-grade materials for packaging medical supplies and equipment, and food-grade materials for packing perishable goods and other food products. Always follow international standards to meet consumer health and safety needs.

Tips And Important Considerations When Choosing Products To Sell.

While you already have an idea of in demand products during this pandemic crisis, it’s still imperative to conduct a careful study as to what types of merchandise are applicable for you and your target audience. By doing so, you’ll better meet your business goals and reap enormous rewards.

Here are some tips when choosing in demand products to manufacture and sell:

1. Stay Unique With Category Design.

Category design refers to an innovative business strategy that can help your company dominate a new product category. While you already have an idea of in demand products, you can use it as a basis in developing your own unique product. This new product fills in a need to resolve a problem brought about by the drastic changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, if your company is into creating digital products, you might want to develop a new app that has never been seen on the market based on existing ones.

2. Never Miss The Importance Of Product Prototyping.

Prototyping is crucial in the manufacturing industry. So, if you’re planning to launch similar products stated above, yours must be more durable, efficient, and cost-effective because these are the things that consumers demand nowadays. With prototyping, you can make product feature changes easily without wasting too many raw materials, as well as ensure that your products are of top-notch quality.

3. Study Your Target Audience.

Guesswork is never acceptable when doing business, more so during a pandemic. Everything needs to be accurate and precise, so studying the buying behavior patterns and stages of your target audience in the sales funnel is crucial to attain success.

Before manufacturing and selling in demand products, you have to study the demographics, economic status, and other relevant factors that may affect the purchasing decision of your target audience. Remember that priorities may change because of tight financial situations, like prioritizing food and safety more than luxury items.

4. A/B Testing And SWOT Analysis.

Continuous auditing, like A/B or split testing, to determine if a specific product would still be in demand once you start manufacturing and distributing them is a must. The product market you might want to venture in is overly saturated, so creating an edge is essential if you want to pursue it.

Also, SWOT analysis is an excellent way to determine the strengths (best features and benefits), weaknesses (flaws and drawbacks), opportunities (new markets and target audiences), and threats (like cybersecurity threats) of your new product.

Innovate And Resolve.

With millions of products and companies manufacturing and selling through physical stores and online channels, entrepreneurs should be more innovative in order to resolve and supply the needs of consumers. Aside from asserting quality, you also have to be creative when marketing or advertising your new product.

Conclusion.

The in demand products during this time of pandemic include medical tools and equipment, electronic devices, digital products, and shipping packaging products. These types of merchandise have surged in sales as they meet some of the world’s most basic, most essential needs during this current global health crisis.

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Tip The Scales: Pro Tips For Young Entrepreneurs In 2020

When you’re a young entrepreneur trying to make your mark in a landscape largely controlled by big business, you’re already the underdog. The David to their Goliath – you’re fighting an uphill battle and victory can often seem a long way out of reach but, what that means is, when you win – your victory is twice as epic! We’re talking about Stephen Bradbury sliding into first place, AOC unseating a ten-term incumbent, Michael Jordan not making the varsity basketball team in high school and going on to become the greatest of all time, Stephen Spielberg being rejected by film school three times in a row  and then going on to become one of the most celebrated directors of all time.

So, you’re fighting for your life, in an uphill battle and then you get hit with the absolute perfect storm of COVID-closures, adapting to working from home and the possibility of major economic distress. In light of this deeply unfair context, which is making the already hard work associated with being a young person starting their own business feel practically impossible, you may ask yourself – how can you help tip the balance in your favour here?

Never lose sight of your goal.

When you’re making a major leap like you’re required to do when starting a business, in the hectic day to day running of a company you can lose sight of your goal. A good way to keep yourself on track is to have a clear picture in your mind of your companies end goal the customers or clients that you could help with your business or product. Always keep in mind that you’re doing this for them. When you’re getting bogged down in the day-to-day, it’s always good to remember what you’re working towards and what your could become down the line.

Don’t let go of the true believers!

It’s all about who you’ve got on your side. Ask yourself who you want in your corner when things get tough because inevitably in a new business things won’t always go to plan. So, when you find someone who really believes in you and your ideas, hold onto them! Passionate people are willing to put in the hard work and will be loyal to the cause, pay them well, value them and be vocal about how much they mean to you and your company.

Use your network.

It’s always important to ask for advice from those who have made the leap before you. To connect with these people it’s important to create a network of people to approach for advice or expertise. How do you go about this? You might want to get a business mentor in your industry so that you can ask from advice from someone who has been in the exact same position as you currently find yourself in. You could think about joining a professional mentoring network or you could approach someone yourself over a site such as Lindken. To learn more about how you may approach a mentor you could check out this informative article for young entrepreneurs featuring advice from fellow entrepreneurs.

Save wherever you can.

It’s important to start small, you’re always going to have to spend a fair amount of cash but, how you spend it and what you spend it on will determine whether your business will succeed or fail. You have to make sure that you’ve got the foundations covered before you start spending on anything fancy such as branding. Start with what you need and make sure you’ve got enough to pay for insurance, wages and essential contractors.

Articles, such as this informative article, are packed with great advice to help you learn how to make your money stretch further.  With options such as taking advantage of the gig economy, negotiating better prices for yourself, getting discounts wherever you can and asking for advice from those who have come before you. When you’re saving any way you can, you’ll want to check you’re getting the best deal on your corporate credit card. Make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck, ensure you compare cards to save.

Use social media.

A real advantage you have as a young entrepreneur is your natural ability on social media. Growing up on social media means that you understand it in a way that someone who has had to learn the process could never. You can use your natural ability to make natural and consistent posts and stories. For some more advice, check out this article.

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A Checklist For Entrepreneurs Looking To Build Their Business

As an entrepreneur, it is likely that you want to know as much as possible before you begin your new adventure into starting a business.

So, in no particular order, here is a helpful checklist for many areas of your business that you should be concentrating on in order to promote healthy and successful growth.

Business Branding.

When you’re a newly-created business that is still trying to find its footing, solid branding may feel uncertain at first. Perhaps you don’t yet know what your business is, or maybe you’re not sure how best to brand it until you’ve done further research and competitor analysis.

Nevertheless, it’s crucial to have your branding decided upon as soon as possible, as you will have no hope in successfully promoting your business if even your business does not know what it is yet.

Branding needs to provide a solid and clear image for your target market, and it needs to successfully tell consumers what you’re offering, and in what way. It’s, therefore, essential to think carefully about your branding as soon as you can.

There is no reason why you can’t rebrand down the line. Many businesses go through a rebrand at some stage in their lives. However, you shouldn’t be setting your goal for a rebrand from the very beginning, as this only shows that you’re unclear in the initial stages. Set branding you can rely on at the start of your business, which hopefully will continue strongly enough to never require a rebrand.

Your Finances.

You’re going to need a source of money to support your growing business in the development stages before you begin making any profit. This means a solid grasp on your business expenses and how your budget matches your plans. While it’s true that you need to spend money in order to make money, you shouldn’t spend a significant amount in the very early days of your business.

Any corners which can be cut in order to save money should be done, such as working from home remotely instead of renting out business premises until you have enough income to expand.

Be sure to plan out all your relevant bills, charges, and outgoings, and what you can comfortably afford to invest in order to build your business. You can always invest in extras such as branded products when you’re making enough money to comfortably do so. Don’t try to do too much at once.

A Business Plan.

You won’t get very far without a concise business plan. This will not only help your business to stay on target, but it’ll help you to maintain a clearer head in regard to your business plan and goals.

Detailed business plans are also essential if you’re looking to gain partners or investors, as they will want to see a clear outline of your expectations for the future, as well as what it is that your business does, and how.

Digital Asset Management.

Entrepreneurs creating and developing businesses in this day and age will undoubtedly need to use and embrace technology and digital means. This means that you’re going to be creating a wealth of digital assets, including your new company logo and any online files, documents, or media examples that relate to your personal business.

Digital Asset Management allows you to control, protect, and manage all of that. It’s important as a newborn business to protect the new ideas and files you are putting out there into the online world, to ensure that it is not reused without permission.

You can read this article for more information on Digital Asset Management.

Remote Working or Business Premises.

As you set up your business for growth, it’s going to be clear from the beginning whether a smaller, remote-working team is best for your business, or whether you’re going to need a large team with a designated business premises. This decision will be based largely on the type of business you have. Anything which is a physical product or service may need an office base or a warehouse facility.

A business which is providing a service that does not require face to face interactions can easily be done remotely or from home-working. That being said, you always have the option to rent out office space when needed if you need to meet with clients, or if you’d prefer your small team to be based somewhere specific.

Always consider what is best for your business in order for it to run smoothly, what your budget allows for, and what will look most professional and favorable to your customers.

Team Members.

Whether working remotely from home or based in a premises, you also need to decide about hiring employees. Depending on the business, some entrepreneurs may be able to work alone, or with the help of family and friends in the first instance, without the need to hire any employees. Some entrepreneurs may wish to develop a very small team of three or four employees, or perhaps your business plans mean hiring a large team.

It’s important to include in your business planning what you intend for employees and team members going forward.

Social Media.

Unveiling a new business in this era means social media is an absolute must. Your digital reputation is going to be essential in attracting new customers and marketing your business. This means that creating new business profiles on all relevant platforms for your new business is something you should do as soon as possible, once you have your registered name and branding arranged.

You can set up business profiles to also help with market research and competitor analysis so that you can observe the social media profiles and interactions of others to best understand how to promote your business.

Business Website.

If you’ve succeeded in targeting and attracting your customer base, then your business website is going to be their first port of call to make a judgment on your new business. This means that your new business website needs to be fully formed and up to scratch. It needs to be professionally designed with engaging content, while best-promoting what you do and encouraging your memorable branding.

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5 Cheap Business Ideas For Budding Entrepreneurs

62% of billionaires are self-made.

Now, they didn’t all start out with tons of capital in the bank, but they had to start with something.

The best business to start with little money (before you’ve worked hard and made it rich) is a cheap business.

Start small and work your way up to the top. Learn more about a few cheap business ideas you can use to get started.

Ideas for Starting a Cheap Business.

If you’re looking for micro-business ideas, you have several options to choose from. Depending on your budget and career goals, certain ideas may work for you. Other unique business ideas might simply pave the financial path for future startups.

1. Cleaning Service.

A cleaning service is an easy business to start. The initial cost is largely spent on cleaning supplies and equipment. There are just a few tips for starting a cleaning business you should consider first.

Mostly you want to think about how much ground you can cover as a single employee. You’ll also want to research competition in the area.

2. Landscaping or Lawncare.

Another cheap business to start is a basic lawn care service. You really only need a trimmer, lawnmower, and lots of time. Depending on how much capital you have to invest, you might not be able to break into more advanced services.

Lawncare is one of many micro-business ideas to break into for solo entrepreneurs, of all ages. Competition might be high, but word-of-mouth advertising and personal commitment are a free way to build up your business.

3. Virtual Assistant.

If you’re sick of working for someone else and are ready to start your own cheap business, consider becoming a virtual assistant. All you need are great people skills and a quiet area where you can work.

Previous experience as any sort of executive or administrative assistant is a great way to start with higher prices. If you’re new to remote work or being an assistant, build up your client list before you start charging high rates.

4. Sitting: Houses, Babies or Pets.

Housesitting, pet sitting, and babysitting are all great cheap business ideas. They require practically no start-up cost at all. Additionally, you really only need testimonials to prove your reliability.

The more work you do for any of these services, the faster your business will grow. As for micro-business ideas, sitting is a great source of reliable income for those of any age. It’s also flexible enough to juggle multiple unique business ideas.

5. Tutoring.

Another easy business to start is tutoring. You only need expertise in one subject, really. If you want to work remotely, you will need a basic computer or tablet with a webcam.

You’ll only need your knowledge and reference materials you paid for when you got your degree to really get started.

Let’s Get Down to Business.

Now that you have a few ways to start a cheap business, it’s time to capitalize on them. Determine which one is best for your career and business goals, and get working. If you need more information about becoming an entrepreneur, please reference our other content.

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Reinventing Your Company For Post-Pandemic Growth

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the way businesses of all shapes and sizes operate. Some businesses were able to innovate and adapt to the challenges of the crisis, while others were forced to make changes that severely altered their profit margins and financial stability. The entire workforce has undergone a reset, and the impact has changed the nature of the business ecosystem.

Small and large business owners are looking at the last few months and trying to figure out how to take these positive and negative experiences into the future. Whatever they decide, it must be done quickly to develop resilience against the next wave of challenges.

Individualize the Approach.

The impact of the pandemic has varied across industries and companies, but each business owner and administrative team has gained invaluable experience from the process. For many, the changes made resulted in favorable results, while others struggled to avoid shutting the doors forever from the labor and financial strain. Going forward, these companies need to figure out how to make their enterprise successful, though it may look very different from the rest of the competition or even the industry.

Investment experts like Mark Stevens know that you don’t become successful without innovation. Allowing your business to return to a pre-pandemic state of operations and baselines is a death row choice for your company. Now is the crucial time to adapt your framework and capitalize on the lessons learned to chart a growth path for a post-pandemic market and economy. The future is still an unknown, but strategic decision making can help your company ride through the upcoming months and years with certainty.

Follow a Logical Pattern.

Your pandemic response shouldn’t be a fast-forward jump into busy operations and business as usual. No matter how great or small the impact of the last few months, your actions should be carefully planned and implemented. Your first step is making sure that all essential business functions are still operating but with extreme care to keep employees and consumers sage. Unless you already managed to secure some semblance of normal activity, this initial response could be highly chaotic as you try to stop the financial bleeding your company may be suffering. Once things are stabilized, your team can develop a plan that will restore your operations to a scalable state. This plan needs to identify and include a way to develop the capabilities needed to reopen.

This may cause you to take a look at your labor pool, your budget, and your supply chain. As these areas are addressed, you can extend your functions to address the market needs. Your entire team will need to conduct new workflows and processes according to the new strategy, but these processes should be designed with repeatability and scalability in mind. Growth and maximum performance output can be more easily achieved when you aren’t having to strategize with each new phase of development. Rely on emergent patterns and former experiences as you lay the new foundation and move forward.

Develop Organizational Resilience.

Once you come through a major organizational reset, you start to build resilience within the company. As you look back over what didn’t work during the time of crisis, you will identify weaknesses in your operating models and business practices that you can weed out or strengthen for the next major business disruption. In light of how COVID-19 has impacted the globe, there are extreme concerns that a second wave of widespread illness will occur. Should a vaccine or cure still be months or years in the making, economists fear another devastating blow to business activities should the global population succumb to a surge in coronavirus cases. It is crucial for your company to be in a place where it is able to learn the lessons quickly from the last challenges and build sustainable changes into your new operating model.

Developing resilience must start with an in-depth assessment of how the last crisis stretched or broke your existing operational strategy. These are the areas that present the most risks but also the most opportunities. Senior leadership needs to spend time with scenario-planning to pinpoint the uncertainties that jeopardized the last few months but could still pose problems in the new models. The future of the enterprise may rest upon these areas, and with extreme volatility in the market still expected, your strategy should address your greatest weaknesses. This way, your new normal is already a lot stronger than your previous position.

Accept a New Reality.

No matter how hard you may try or how badly you want it, you won’t be able to recreate life or your business operations to a pre-pandemic normal. Many of the activities that supported your operations prior to the pandemic will no longer be in great demand. Cut your losses quickly, and reinvent your future.

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Key Considerations When Choosing A Storage Unit

If you are looking for a storage unit, it is important that you find the right one for your needs. Renting a storage unit is something many people do and for a wide variety of reasons other than just storage. In order to make sure you find the ideal unit and facility for your specific needs, there are various factors you need to keep in mind.

So, who uses a storage unit? Well, these units are used by many people for a variety of purposes. Some people use storage units simply for storage of belongings. However, people also use them for other purposes – some people even set up a small office in their storage unit! Others may operate a business from home and use the storage unit to store stock. There are all sorts of reasons why you may want to rent one of these units.

In this article, we will look at some of the key considerations when choosing a unit to suit your needs.

What to Look For.

There are various things you need to look for when you are choosing a storage unit and facility that is suited to your requirements. Some of the key ones are:

The Cost of Rental.

It is important to consider the cost of the rental, as you need to be able to budget for it. So, you always need to check how much the rent is and determine whether this fits in with what you can afford. Remember, the size and location of the unit can affect the cost as can the provider you choose. So, make sure you take cost into consideration but also take these other factors into account when making your choice. 

The Size of the Unit.

You also need to look at the size of the unit to ensure it will be suitable for your needs. You can choose from different sizes when it comes to storage units, so you should have no problem finding one that is suitable for you. Make sure you do not make the mistake of choosing one that is too small just to save money. On the other hand, avoid getting one that is too big, as you will end up paying extra for space you do not need. 

Where it Is Located.

Another important consideration is the location of the storage unit, as you need to ensure it is within easy reach for you. So, take the location into account when making your choice. If you can drive to the unit, you can choose one a little further afield if you wish to, but if you have to use public transport or walk, you may want one nearer to home. 

Accessibility.

Finally, make sure you check on accessibility for the storage unit and the facility. For instance, is it open 24/7 and is there someone there around the clock to manage the facility?

Looking at all of these factors will make it easier for you to choose the right storage unit.

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Insight Into Operating A Successful Services Firm

by Cameron Batt, founder of Crum Consult

Despite what some interviews and inspirational quotes may suggest, creating a multi-national firm is more than just luck. In fact, if you have the right team of people on your side and can communicate effectively, you won’t need much luck at all. Of course there are more factors than just being able to articulate yourself and having a good support system, but at the foundation of any successful businessperson, that’s most of what lies there.

In this article we take a look at the soft-skills required to create and manage a services firm that operates on a national and even global level.

The type of services firm that this article will focus on are management consulting firms specifically. Unlike marketing agencies and similar service-based firms, management consulting requires a broad knowledge-base of all things relating to business. Marketing companies are usually centered around providing quantitative results, which can be detrimental in some aspects. For example, if you are solely focused on bringing in sales through PPC, you may see neglect in other areas. Marketing agencies are not always focused on your bottom line, which is where a consultant will be a preferential option.

Another reason why this article is focusing on management consulting firms is because I founded one of the fastest growing management consultancies and the insight I’ve gained can be useful for any business founders.

Some backstory.

Before carrying on, it might be helpful to shed some light into why I decided to start a management consulting firm. Back in 2016, I created a blog that published content relating to finance, after months of getting no where, it took off. Within weeks the blog had turned from a hobby into my main source of income and provided me with an insight into the business world that I would not have otherwise received. I sold the blog in 2019 and spent some months deciding what I wanted to do next. The main skill that I had developed from building the blog was the ability to market content and assets online. This lead me in the direction of starting a marketing agency, but it didn’t seem to fit my skill set as my knowledge in business development would be neglected by focusing on marketing other businesses. After some informal discussions with the team that I had constructed from my days of financial blogging, it seemed like a consulting firm was the logical business to establish. Not only could my marketing skills be put to use, but I could help grow client organizations and help solve their fundamental problems.

Finding clients isn’t easy, but finding a team of people that can represent your firm in the same manner that you do can be even more challenging. At Crum Consult, the team began as a handful of consultants and marketing experts that I had encountered in previous ventures, this team then expanded as clients requested more from our team. In only 5 months, Crum Consult has added dozens of large clients to the books and continues to take on new challenges every day.

Now for the part you’ve been waiting for, the opening of the golden chest. Some real insight:

What Is A Management Consulting Firm?

A consultant can be an individual who provides expert assistance or advice in a specific sector such as automotive, banking, energy and many more. Consultants can give advice to people and businesses. Despite the term being broad, there are many ways in which you can tell someone apart who is a consultant in contrast to other professions.

To start, a consultant gives expertise to clients that lack direction and guidance in their industry. In return for experts advice, clients are remunerated by a monthly fee. Although, some consultants are kept on permanently as large companies may require frequent advice.

The way that I look at the consulting role is comparable to that of the genius bar at an Apple Store, just for businesses. Regardless of your problem, a consultant should have the ability to understand your issue and either solve it or have the skills to pass your problem up the chain in order for it to be solved. There are many types of consultant, ranging from tech consultant to SEO consultant. The problems that a business may face could require a firm with a specific capabilities.

What It Takes To Develop A Multi-National Company.

There is a common misconception that it takes investors, incubators and startup accelerators to take your idea and turn it into a business, this is not always the case. My first blog cost $10 to establish (hosting and domain), and was started as a hobby whilst I was in college. Marketing doesn’t always have to be expensive either, with digital businesses you can utilize social media and outreach to secure media placements. Whilst it does help to have some budget to spend on marketing, it can be done almost completely free.

Despite my initial experience in business being with an internet-based company, the skills required to make it successful can be transferred to any medium. Small businesses and large conglomerates have a vastly different corporate structure, but the essential goals for all businesses are the same, mainly being to make a profit and keep doing so until it is no longer possible. To do this, the individuals up the chain in an organization should keep these points in mind at any stage of their career. As stated previously, the “individuals up the chain” can be the founder, CEO or anyone who has the capabilities to alter the trajectory of a business. This even relates to shop owners and local-store managers.

A Strong Team.

Behind every successful entrepreneur is a team of individuals who work as a support system, assisting with important decisions and giving the person driving the ship an unbiased opinion even when it may potentially lead to a negative initial response. Elon Musk may have said it best, “Talent is extremely important. It’s like a sports team, the team that has the best individual player will often win, but then there’s a multiplier from how those players work together and the strategy they employ.”

Network Of Connections.

Building connections comes as a result of good communication skills. Networking is about sharing, the sharing of experience, ideas and more. Active network is essential when growing a business, with your network including friends, family, colleagues and other individuals in your industry.

Industry Insight.

If you research the backstory of many NASDAQ company founders, you will come across the fact that most of the founders had expertise in their sector, even before establishing their company. For example, if you are looking to launch a startup in the healthcare sector, it would beneficial if you had qualifications or a history in that sector. Operating a consulting firm has highlighted just how important industry insight really is. Clients in all sectors look to us in order to provide insight into their sector and the larger business landscape. It isn’t possible to start a business that requires knowledge in many industries and grow it successfully on your own. This is why we look to hire consultants with considerable expertise in a chosen sector.

Target and Goal Setting.

This can be true for not only the founder or company executives, but in fact all levels of staff can make use of this point. Despite what many inspirational quotes and motivational infographics may have you believe, hard work alone is not enough to take your business idea from startup to conglomerate. For many, the thought of hard work means the ability to stay up all night working, exerting a great deal of effort and energy. 80% of new businesses in the US fail after the first year and the failure of those businesses cannot be singularly attributed to lack of hard work.

At the beginning of a startup’s life, there is typically 1-5 people working on the project. Each one of those people must have a plan, with tangible goals, that will result in the completion of a task and the byproduct of completing these task will take the business to the next level. To put this into context, many business owners that approach my firm for consulting will lack strategy for their business. We work with them to set these goals, once they have an idea about what they must do, they can work hard at achieving these goals.

Many of the businesses that fail will come as a result of the business owner working hard at something that isn’t effective at growing the business. For example, if you are looking to drive sales to your product through social media.. working hard at designing a leaflet to post through people’s doors won’t bring in results. Working hard at building relationships with influencers will.

What Skills Are Required?

Taking your business from startup to multi-national organization will require specific hard-skills, but these are dependent on your industry, business structure and what resources you have available. So I am going to cover some of the soft-skills that have enabled me and many other business owners to find success.

Communication.

The way that you convey a message can be the make or break factor that determines your businesses success. When dealing with people inside the company, communication is key as you will need to convey your ideas to someone who may not see your overall picture for the business. When dealing with people outside of your team, such as clients, you should have the ability to break down complex theories into more understandable concepts for people with little knowledge of the subject matter. For example, marketing agencies use advanced tools and methods to boost client businesses. The owners of these businesses are not likely to understand the abstract concept of A/B testing, PPC and link building. So it is down to the marketers to break these ideas down and communicate them in a way that is more understandable from a business owner with no previous knowledge on digital marketing.

Forward Thinking.

Being innovative in a proactive sense instead of a reactive sense can be vastly beneficial. Having a forward-thinking mindset can allow you to forecast future problems before they have arisen and find a solution in a more time effective manner. Predicting the future would be a skill that everyone could appreciate, unfortunately this isn’t possible. By forward thinking, I am referring to the analysis of a current situation and planning for future outcomes based on information that you have currently available.

Introspectiveness.

Being able to look at your own character and see flaws is arguably one of the most important factors in business. You can have all the help in the world, industry insight and an amazing team around you.. but if you’re not able to take their criticism on board, then you may not have any of it. For most founders, your business is like a child, you hope to take it from a small idea and grow it into a household name. Although, when you become emotionally invested in your business, it can be difficult to see any faults in it. Shows like Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank highlight just how difficult it can be for a business owner to look at their business from a third person. As hard as it is, you should try to be the biggest critic of your business and maintain a balance of optimism and realism.

 

Cameron Batt is the founder of Crum Consult, a global management consulting firm based in London. He is a financial analyst and economist, Cameron also writes for a handful of business-related publications such as Entrepreneur and Equities magazine.

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