Archive for August, 2017

What you need in the office to increase productivity and sales!


The office environment is an important thing to get right. Its and area that a lot of people spend a large percentage of their time, it’s where people do their work and it is an area that customers may come in to see so it is important to be optimised for these things. You want it to be a nice area so staff will enjoy coming to work and not just want to watch the clock, its needs to be enhanced to boost productivity and needs to be appealing for customers who may come in so they look at the business positively. In this article we are going to discuss various improvements that could be made to an office to increase the productivity of staff and increase the sales of the business.

Organisation and cleanliness

Something that is very important to getting work done is organisation. This applies to the organisation of physical things like folders, the work place and staff and applies to digital things like files and programs. This all ties into efficiency of working as people will be able to get jobs done faster if they can find what they need faster. It reduces confusion and lessens the chance of work getting lost. It is important to put staff who work in similar rolls closer together as then they can get advice and information quicker as well.

Keeping everything clean as well is quite important to the moral of workers. If you work in an area that is dirty you won’t be as productive as it subconsciously makes us less happy and more scatter brained. If you staff are happy, they will want to come to work and will increase the quantity and quality of their work.

Plants and natural light

The subconscious is a complicated thing. It is not fully understood but studies have shown that offices that have more nature in them like sunlight and plants are more creative and happier. This will lead to your staff being more productive and more sales being made and more work being done.

Branded office equipment

Having branded stationary and utensils like branded mugs in the office can be very beneficial in many different ways! For example, having all of your utensils branded with your logo gives the company a sense of professionalism and confidence. Employees will feel like they are part of a company that is worthwhile thus making them work that little bit harder. It also benefits clients who may come into the office as they will see all of these branded pieces of merchandise and will trust in the company more. This is because they will see all your branded mugs and believe that only a business that is successful and trustworthy could do something like that and be more likely to purchase with you. Plus you could give them to clients to take home and use so they will see your logo for a long time to come.

An area for refreshments

It is important to separate the areas where people work and where you get your refreshments. This separations is valuable because having the disconnect between them allows people to focus when they are in the office area. It sets up mental states of minds for each area that says that one area is to relax and the other is to work. Not only that but it is important for staff members to have a rest and refresh themselves with a drink as non-stop work will make people tired and less efficient. So having the facilities to refresh your staff is a very important thing to have in the office.

Encourage personalisation of employee’s workspace

As staff members spend a long time at their desk so it is only natural that they may want to bring in some things to decorate their workspace. You should allow this as it has been shown that staff members decorating their workspace with photos, desk items and other personal belongings does a lot for personal wellbeing and can improve a person’s satisfaction with their job. It also creates the sense of that area being theirs, which makes them feel more secure about the job and happy to be there. As we have mentioned before, these leads to more work done as if they are happy with where they are and what they are doing, they will work faster and efficiently.

File for bankruptcy

The decision to file for bankruptcy is not one entered into lightly. Situations have occurred to even bring you to this thought process. In this preparation, it helps to have a full understanding of your options, the consequences and your responsibilities after entering into this type of financial arrangement. Another thing that helps is to have a Chapter 13 attorney St Louis who understands the process and can make sure the decisions you make are the right ones.

Generally, Chapter 13 is considered a reorganization bankruptcy that does not require you to surrender personal property to satisfy outstanding debts. Instead, you will need to make a structured repayment plan to pay off debts within three to five years.

Who is Eligible for Chapter 13?

Unlike a Chapter 7 where proceeds from liquidated assets are used to pay debts, you must show you are eligible to file for Chapter 13. Your income will be used to pay off creditors unless your income is too low or inconsistent.

If either of these applies, you may not be eligible to file. This form of bankruptcy requires regular payments according to a schedule. Additionally, there are debt limitations that could prevent you from filing.

What Amount are You Required to Repay?

Under a repayment plan for Chapter 13, your attorney will help you devise a plan to pay some of your debts in full. These are called priority debts and take precedent over other creditors in line to be paid. Examples of priority debts include overdue taxes and child support payments.

Other debts can also be included in your repayment plan. Secured debts, where the creditor can take specific property for unpaid debt, should be part of the repayment plan. A car note or mortgage payment represents secured debt payments. Late payments from falling behind on secured debt payments should also be included.

Finally, your repayment plan should show whether you will have disposable income after making payments on secured debts. If so, this additional money will go towards unsecured debts. If you do not have any disposable income, you might not be required to pay. However, it does not hurt to make a good faith effort to also repay those debts.

While filing for Chapter 13 is a major step in your finances, it is a process that can seem confusing and stressful. Getting help from an attorney who is familiar with bankruptcy laws can relieve you from feeling overwhelmed as you begin to turn your financial situation around.

Helping Your New Small Business Survive and Thrive in the New Economy

Starting a new small business is a thrilling but risky undertaking, and entrepreneurs need to be careful at every step along the way. It can be hard to know just what to do, though, especially when the world of business is changing so rapidly every day. Luckily, you don’t have to go it alone, and you can easily learn from all of the mistakes that other small business owners have made in the past. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started and allow you to avoid some of the pitfalls that commonly befall new small business owners.

First of all, be sure you’re financially secure enough to take the risk of starting your own small business. You should accept that you won’t be able to pay yourself any salary for quite a while, perhaps for years. You will need to plan out a budget that covers all of our probable expenses but also leaves plenty of room for the inevitable unexpected items that will come up once your business is up and running. You should be sure to avoid spending on luxuries until your basic needs have been met.

For the best deals on things that you really need, find a local business that has been around for a while and can get you the best deals. Don’t waste your time or money on an unknown company or fly-by-night brand you’ve never heard of. You’ll save money in the long run by getting the things you need from a reliable provider who can back up their quality. For example, if you need overhead doors Jacksonville FL look for a company with a good reputation like Coyle. This way you can be confident that your tools and materials will be there for you when you need them.

Don’t be afraid to embrace the new world of marketing for your new small business. Social media marketing can be a huge boon to even the most old-fashioned business, and it’s a necessity for businesses in the service sector. You don’t have to hire a social media professional to get the job done right, but sometimes it can be worth the effort. If you’re not comfortable with social media like Facebook and Twitter, or you don’t have the time to carefully craft your business’s message, it may be worth it to find a social media pro. They can take your business to the next level by introducing it to new audiences, building customer relationships, and establishing your brand.

While starting a new business is risky, most entrepreneurs agree that it’s worth it. Give it your best and you’ll succeed.

Why Digital Marketing is Important These Days

I am sure that you would agree with me that we live in a digital era with a very focus on technology. What is more, during the next few years we can expect to see even more technology around us with a really heavy emphasis on the use of social media.

These days, it is really difficult to live without having access to the Internet. I know that some people still manage it especially in some less developed countries, but the truth is that in the Western world the Internet is everywhere and this Digital agency in Peterborough knows how true it is.

I am sure that you have a Facebook account. Maybe you use it for your personal gain, or maybe you manage the Facebook page of your business. Whatever your reason for having one is, I am sure that you put some effort into making sure that you have more and more followers. However, what are you supposed to do when things don’t go the way you would like them to be? The best piece of advice is not to panic, but look at things the right way. If your Facebook campaign is not getting you anywhere, it might be time to rethink your strategy. Are you targeting the right type of crowd? Does your campaign appeal to the group of people you wish to target? These are only some of the questions you might want to ask yourself before each campaign. Of course, the list here goes on and on and can include many things from search marketing to app optimisation.

When it comers to online marketing campaigns, the key here is to find what your needs are and then stick to your strategy for as long as it is possible. Only that way can you be sure that you are going to be successful. If something does not seem to work, take your time to rethink your existing strategy. The best course of action is to contact somebody who has a lot of knowledge and experience in the field and who would be willing to offer you a helpful hand.

I am discussing all kinds of business and finance topics on this blog and I hope that the information I provide will prove to be useful.