Tag Archives: anything and everything

Jun11

Exporting 101: Tips For Small Businesses

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Exporting 101: Tips For Small Businesses

Depending on your line of business and the products you’re selling, there’s a chance that you’ll need to export your products for customers, business partners, or resellers abroad even if you’re still just operating as a small-scale enterprise. Global trade is quite competitive, so when there’s a demand for your product to be shipped to another country, you want to do it right and profit as much as possible. With this in mind, as well as the tips below, you may wish to access site of someone like 3G and invest in shipping software that can help you streamline your processes and enable you to keep tabs on your shipments so that you can be sure they will arrive safely at their destination. 

Here are a few things to remember when exporting your products as a small scale business:

Know the Law and Restrictions:

Before you export your products, you’ll want to know if the product is legal or complies with any regulations and restrictions in the country it’ll be exported to. So, do your research before contacting a logistics company or upping your production to meet the demand in your target country.

Get Partners:

When talking about exporting your products as a small business, you might be thinking about sending your products directly and individually to your clients. However, this can be quite costly in terms of shipping and would take a lot of time and effort to track individually. As such, the best way for you to sell your products abroad is to find partners who are willing to buy and sell the product for you in their country.

This way, you’d be able to send products via air freight or whatever method you choose in bulk, which is cheaper and more convenient for you. Having partners would also mean that you’d be able to sell your products and have you earn more consistently. Your partners may even be willing to process and pay for the shipping for you. But it’s also important that you do your research regarding your partners to know that they’re legitimate and could be trusted to avoid risk.

Packaging:

You may also want to have different packaging for your exported products; perhaps with better packaging or provide a translation of your product’s manual and other information (such as ingredients and nutritional value). It is so important for your product to be accessible to all future customers and translations are a huge part of it. Whether it’s a small recipe book or wine bottles labels with unique logos and phrases, it is a great idea to print them in the most spoken language of each country you ship to. It could make the difference between someone purchasing it or not.

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Decide on the Pricing:

Another thing you’d also want to consider when exporting your products is the pricing. Your pricing would depend on whether you’re selling directly to a customer or a partner, as well as various other factors that make up your transportøkonomi (transport economy). When selling to a business partner, you’d have to consider your bulk pricing and should also include all the costs related to shipping, customs, and logistics, as well as the cost of labor. The price should be agreed upon by you and your business partner in a way that you’re both able to profit while your business partners can still sell it at a competitive and reasonable price in their respective countries.

Exporting products can be expensive, but there are software solutions that can help with cost control, economic freight analysis, and more. These solutions will be tailor made to your company to help ensure best results.

Choose a Good Logistics Company:

You’d be sending valuable products to your partners or customers in another country that’s miles away, so it’s important that you find a company to ship it safely and make sure that it arrives on time to its intended destination without any hitch. As such, you will want to choose a licensed customs broker that would be able to store, handle, and deliver your products on time and also handle all of the necessary legal paperwork and customs clearances. The bottom line, is that you want to ship your products safely, legally, and on time.

Utilizing the best technology can ensure that your products are always ending up in your customer’s hands. Freight Management Software can be a huge assistance in this as it handles the management of shipments, manifests, and customers. It can also include label printing, least cost routing, and real time quotes. A service like this can save you a lot of extra time and money so look into the best fit for your company. A happy customer is one with the product they purchased arriving in a timely, safe manner.

Knowing how to export your product properly can be the key to turning your small business into a huge enterprise. As such, it’s important to keep these pointers in mind when you’re shipping your products abroad.

Jun11

The Secrets To A Thinner Face

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The Secrets To A Thinner Face

It’s a sad fact, but even with rigorous training and exercise, it’s hard to get rid of facial fat. You might have observed that some people, even though a lot bigger than you, have leaner facial features than you do. However, this does not mean that you are overweight at all.

There are actually two reasons why faces appear fuller: one is a high body fat percentage and two is genetics. The first reason is pretty much obvious. As we all know, body fat does not just get stored in the belly area. Some of it goes to the arms, legs, thighs, and for others, the face.

On that note, people with subtle facial features are most likely to have faces appear rounder. This doesn’t mean, however, that you have a concentrated amount of body fat that’s too high to lose. Sometimes, it just means that your facial features are too subtle and it’s easier for body fat to mask it; hence, the formation of double chins and rounded cheeks. For these kinds of people, a thinner face can be achieved by reducing body fat percentage to 10% to 15%.

The second reason, however, does not have anything to do with body fat and how much you exercise. Often, having a round face results from your genes, especially if it is pretty dominant in your family’s genetic structure. Nevertheless, a thinner face can be achieved through various means. For some, they opt for clinical solutions like RF face slimming in the Philippines. But for others, they simply stick to traditional ways of reducing facial fat like some of the following:

Facial Exercises:

You read that right. There is actually an exercise routine for your face. Usually, this is done to improve facial features and enhance muscles in the face. This involves stimulating facial expressions, such as holding a smile and clenching your teeth for several seconds. Massaging your cheeks and jaws are good ways to do this, as well.

While there are a few studies that prove the effectiveness of facial exercises, most of them show that regular routines can do wonders for your face, such as facial skin tightening and rejuvenating. Some reports also show that these exercises help in strengthening the muscles of the face.

Body Weight Exercises:

There is no denying that cardio can help burn body fat fast. However, achieving a thinner face involves more than just jogs, treadmill time, and cardio activities. In order to successfully reduce fats and become lean, it’s best to incorporate body weight exercises in your routine. This means that you will have to opt for exercises that help build and strengthen muscles like yoga and Pilates.

If you’re unable to throw these exercises in your hectic schedule, you can also opt for compound exercises such as squats, bench presses, and weight lifts. Fret not, though. You won’t have to quickly jump into lifting heavy weights to achieve desired results. After all, consistency is more important.

Getting rid of facial fats can be hard. But with lots of extra effort and a little bit of patience, no kind of fat cannot be shed!

Jun11

Spectacular Sunset

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Spectacular Sunset

Hello! There is nothing more beautiful than an amazing sunrise or sunset and during the summer time, both are absolutely spectacular in my neck of the woods. While driving home from work last week, I got to bear witness to this beauty below and it was too lovely to not snap a pic! Take a look:

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The sky seriously looked like ice cream sherbet and I just wanted to dive in and eat it up! The deep purple mixed with the light orange was such a stunning combination and it really helped end a great day at work. This also happened to be the day before my birthday and all of my clients helped to make sure I had a very special one. And, it seemed like planet Earth was doing the same thing by giving me a gorgeous sunset to cap off the day and kick off twenty-five!

What is your favorite color? Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May23

Paranormal Activity?!

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Paranormal Activity?!

Hellooooo! Okay, so the weirdest things happened in my apartment this past week which begs the question of if it’s haunted. Lol, I know it sounds crazy, but the instances that occurred were so impossible that it made me really freaked out. Let us proceed:

Exhibit A:

A few days before this occurrence, I accidentally broke a small plate when trying to get it out of my cabinet on the stove and refrigerator side. The plate broke into a few large pieces that were easy to pick up and get moved directly to the trash can. I then got the little shards cleaned up and continued to go about my day. To my knowledge, that was the last of the problem.

But, three days later, broken plate pieces reappeared in places that just weren’t possible for them to be at. That morning, I had taken my trash out that contained the plate fragments before I left for work. I got home that night and walked into my bathroom to start preparing a bath. And, as luck would have it, I stepped on a piece of broken plate. Mind you, the plate broke three days prior, was in the trash, and hadn’t left the trash since. AND, I stood in my bathroom that morning doing my hair and makeup and didn’t step on anything.

I tended to my foot, ran the bath water, and went to the kitchen to get something to drink. Then, on the opposite counter from which the plate broke sat a larger piece of plate that I couldn’t have missed that morning when I stood in the same spot to fix a glass of Tang for breakfast. This is when I started getting really uneasy, because there was just no way that I would have missed such a big piece of broken plate that morning. And, even if I did, the chances of it sitting there for three days without me seeing it was absolutely impossible.

After the glass incident, it made me hyper aware of two other instances that happened, one being the night before and the other happening the day before that.

Exhibit B:

Maybe this was nothing, but I don’t see how this could have happened without my knowledge, either. The night before the glass incident, I got out of bed to go to the bathroom. I was looking in my mirror while washing my hands and, behind me, I saw a HUGE hornet sitting on my wall.

When I go in and out of my apartment, I never leave my door wide open and I am always quick to get in or get out to prevent things like this from happening. But, even if I wasn’t, I definitely would have noticed this big sucker flying into my apartment. I shit you not, it was a little smaller than a silver dollar. So, needless to say, I was terrified when I saw it just hanging out in my bathroom.

I grabbed my fly swatter and, because it was gigantic, it was really slow and I was able to send it to a watery toilet grave. I felt very unnerved afterwards, though, because it just seemed too big to miss and that means it probably was in my apartment while I was home that evening and I didn’t even know it. Weird.

And, finally, the last incident happened the day before the hornet and two days before the two other glass instances.

Exhibit C:

I would say at least two weeks ago, over a weekend, my boyfriend was over and we were drinking wine on my couch. He accidentally dropped his glass and it broke on the floor space in between my couch and coffee table. It was no big deal and the glass was cleaned up and I thought that was the end of it.

But, two weeks after the glass breaking, a shard showed up again underneath my foot at least ten feet from where the glass broke to begin with. Once again, I have no clue how such a big piece could have gone unnoticed for two weeks or longer without me or someone else stepping on it.

I am glad it was me that stepped on it, though, because that morning I had my old skating coach and her daughter over for lunch. Her little girl was running around my apartment barefoot and it could have been her that stepped on it instead of me. I walked on the glass literally right after they left and was so confused as to how it got almost all the way to my front door and was sitting there for who knows how long without anything happening.

Maybe all of these were coincidences but three weird things happening three days in a row had me so spooked. Nothing has happened since and, hopefully, that will be the last of it. But, if not, I’ll keep you all posted!!

Can anyone offer me some explanations for the above instances? Have you ever experienced any paranormal activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May22

Summer Guest Bloggers Wanted!

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Summer Guest Bloggers Wanted!

Hiii everyone! Unfortunately in Ohio, we didn’t get to enjoy a whole lot of spring weather. It was desperately cold with a few nice days and now we have already skyrocketed into temperatures in the 80’s. I am so not thrilled about it, because Lil Red was not made for extreme heat. So, with summer weather basically here in Ohio, I figured I would announce a call to action for some guest bloggers!

If you have a warm weather OOTD or MOTD, summer vaca travel tips, favorite recipes, or activities and want to share it with my audience in over one hundred and eighty different countries, then please shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com . I look forward to hearing from all of you! Much love. -Sarah

May17

Apartment Lyfe Update

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Apartment Lyfe Update

Helloooo! It has been almost one month since I moved into my very own apartment and, honestly, it couldn’t have gone better. The move went smoothly, I love my space, and it legitimately feels like a vacation being here. From furniture shopping to stocking up my pantry and cooking in my kitchen or waking up in my loft space, everything is still so exciting to me.

And, the novelty continues, as I work on fixing up my office and an art wall in my living room. But, my main living spaces are complete and it turned out exactly how I wanted it to. Even just sitting here at the desk in my office and typing on my own brand new laptop feels awesome!

This move happened at the perfect time and it felt right instead of rushed or scary. I am enjoying my new home so much and it has been such a joy sharing the process with all of you too! What was your first apartment like? What about your current living quarters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May15

The Little Black Book Of Contacts Every Homeowner Should Have

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The Little Black Book Of Contacts Every Homeowner Should Have

When you own your own home, you’re always going to have different roles and responsibilities that you need to stick to. It’s not like renting where you have a landlord to take care of things for you. When things go wrong, you need to know who to call. And not only that, but when you’re renovating or you need some help, it’s good to know what experts and specialists to turn to.

As much as you may think that you can just look for someone at the time or when you need them, in a rushed situation, you may choose the wrong company or person. This is why it’s handy for you to have a list of contacts that you can call when you need the help. Let’s take a look at some you may want to gather:

Handyman:

The first kind of person that you might want to think about getting is a handyman! Do you often have work that needs doing around the home? Do you struggle to do some tasks yourself, like hanging pictures, painting, or repairing things? Then, having a handyman that is skilled at odd jobs is what you need. So do your research and find the best person. Simply entering handyman near me in Screven or whatever city you reside in on a search engine will give you a list of local professionals in your area. It’s also a good idea to ask friends and family for recommendations too!

Gardener:

Next up, you may need to get yourself a gardener. We all know that aiming to take care of your own garden is pretty much a full-time job. And, when you’re busy, you won’t always have the time to mow the lawn or cut hedges. Bringing in a gardener to help you is also a good move when you have no green thumbs!

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Unsplash Image

Tradesmen:

As a step on from that, it’s important for you to know the best tradesmen to have on hand, too. When things go wrong, you’ll want to make sure that you have a list of people that you can call. Here, you’ll want to know the best plumbers, electricians, builders, and any other specialists that you may need.

Housekeeper:

At the same time, if you have a large house and you struggle to get all of the work done, maybe you need a housekeeper or a cleaner to come and help you for an hour or two a week? There’s no shame in that – just make sure you do your research and find someone you like and who you can trust.

Dog Walker:

And, finally, if you have a dog and you work full-time, then having a dog walker might be what you need. Even if you don’t have a full-time job but you have a super busy schedule, finding a great dog walker can feel like such a treat. Then you have one less job to do yourself. Not only that, but you may even want to look for a dog sitter too – or a two in one walker and sitter for when you’re away for the day or a vacation.

Knowing who to call when you need work done is important, so gather recommendations and reviews and assemble your own little black book today!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Apr25

Mad Lib Hilarity

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Mad Lib Hilarity

Hiii everyone! A few days ago at work, I was filling mad libs out with my client, her sister, and her seven year old niece and it was honestly the funniest thing of my life. And, because one of the pages that we filled out was blog related, I had to share it with all of you. Enjoy!

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Lololol, I really just can’t. Us girls were laughing our little behinds off but the one that we especially lost it on was “Aunt B shaped earrings”. That is what my client’s nieces affectionately call her so when the kiddo suggested that as the noun we were dying! On another note, mad libs are a great way to teach children new words, grammar, and parts of sentences so if you’re looking for a fun way for your kids to learn something new, then give it a try.

Thanks for stopping by, Sarah.com fans! 😉

What is something funny that happened to you today? How do you make teaching something new more fun? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr21

Moving On Up: The Big Day!

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Moving On Up: The Big Day!

Helloooo! After much preparation, shopping, and spending for my move into chez moi, the big day is finally here!! The movers have been hired, all of my stuff is packed, and I am ready to go. 😀 There are what feels like tons of boxes and furniture seen below to get from Point A to Point B but it is going to feel so good once everything is where it needs to be and in working order. So good, that I won’t even mind unpacking all of this:

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WOOF.

All of you have been here for the hauls, the excitement, and my nerves about moving and I want to thank you for it. I can’t wait to show everyone how my apartment looks once I’m all settled in! ❤

What are some of your tips and tricks when it comes to moving? How about when it comes to unpacking? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr17

Making Working With Remote Employees A Breeze

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Making Working With Remote Employees A Breeze

Thanks to technology and developments in online communication, it’s likely you’ll be working with remote employees in your organization. Cloud computing, be it hybrid, multi-cloud management, public or private, in addition to video conferencing, and better networks mean that businesses can choose from a wider range of talent for their teams, resulting in more employees working from remote locations. Remote working also provides flexibility to your staff, allowing them to work at home and in other locations – something which can provide a better work/life balance.

While having remote workers can be great for your business, it can come with some pitfalls, too. To help make working with remote employees a breeze for your business, take a look at the following tips:

Set your expectations:

It can be difficult for remote workers to find their feet. Without the structure of the office environment, the onus is on them to manage workloads, timekeeping and so on, so it’s useful for employees to know what’s expected from them. Having core hours that you expect everyone to be available is beneficial to your business, while putting reporting systems in place will help you monitor progress. Create clear guidelines that will help them and you navigate remote working much easier.

Give them the tools they need:

For all employees to do a good job, they need to use the right tools. Providing remote workers with the right equipment and technology will ensure that they are able to work effectively and be a part of the wider system. Cloud management systems are a cost-effective tool for business that will help everyone access what they need and facilitate collaborative working with ease.

You can read how a system like Templafy brings value to businesses at https://www.templafy.com/blog/techradar-pro-names-templafy-among-the-best-document-management-systems/. The standardization of forms and templates can help employees stay on brand and ensures that they’re using the right systems for their work.

Create an inclusive work environment:

It can be difficult for remote workers to feel like a part of the team. There are ways to help remote employees feel included that include encouraging bonding between colleagues and recognizing the contributions of your remote workers. Communication is another important aspect, so providing regular communication can help employees feel connected, even when they’re in another location.

Working from home can be difficult for employees for many reasons. Where possible, make it easy for your remote employees to travel in when needed. Give them a travel budget and arrange meetings that will allow them to enjoy face to face contact with the rest of the team. Remember to include some social activities as part of these visits to strengthen those team bonds.

Making a success of remote working depends on several factors, but it’s important to put the time and investment into developing clear guidelines and processes to help everything fit into place. Remember to check in with your remote employees regularly to ensure that they’re happy and that things are working well and review things if it’s not quite right. Your remote workers are an asset to your business, so help them feel like a valued, recognized part of your team.

 Featured Image By: Unsplash