Category: Local Branding

Steps for Boosting Your Child’s Academic Success

Steven on April 26, 2019

Every parent wants their child to be successful. Even though academic success cannot guarantee professional success as well, it does give your child more chance of getting the job they want and leading a better quality lifestyle. And even though there’s only so much you can do until your child moves to college and away from your supervision, there are ways to help your child be better in school so they can be just as good during their college years – and after. With that in mind, here are a few tips that should help you boost your child’s academic success.

Read to them

One of the best things you can do to help your child do better in school is read to them – and encourage them to read as well. Also, don’t just read – discuss what you read. Talk about the stories, characters, actions, etc. Besides boosting your child’s vocabulary, reading is a great way to teach your kids about decisions and consequences. It’s also a great way to build good habits – they will inevitably have to read actively for high school and college, so you might as well teach them how to do that while they are still kids.

Know what your child is studying at school

You can’t really help your kids if you don’t even know what you’re helping them with. So, look at their notebooks from time to time, talk about their day at school, and feel free to talk to their teachers as well. Plus, knowing what your child is studying gives you a chance to actually talk about it with them and help them when needed. For instance, if you know that they are struggling with English, and you’re not good enough to help them yourself, you can get them professional English tutoring to help them out. In short, they are more likely to tell you which subject they are having trouble with and why if they know that you’re familiar with their subjects and assignments.

Practice discipline and respect at home

Most teachers would agree that disrespect is a pretty common issue in the classroom. Discipline and respect are things that need to be taught at home and then brought to school and not the other way around. After all, if kids aren’t required to behave at home, they sure won’t do so in the classroom. And if they don’t respect the teacher or pay attention in class, they are also less likely to take good notes, understand the study matter, and consequently, get good grades. So, make sure to practice respect and discipline at all times – through your relationships, friendships, colleagues, etc. Show your kids what it means, and they’ll respect their teachers too.

Learn what motivates your child

Your child should want to do their best because they see value in their effort and not because they are afraid of punishment or disappointment. Moreover, fear puts additional pressure on your child, and being under stress can only make succeeding harder. So, instead of studying for grades, your child should be studying for knowledge and everything that comes with it, from personal growth to the ability to help others as well. Therefore, learn what it is that motivates your kids, whether it is pure ambition, ability to contribute to the society, or something else. Remind your child from time to time why it’s important to do well in school – because they’ll be more likely to achieve whatever it is that they are aiming for.

Praise and encourage

You should always be your child’s biggest cheerleader, for the simple reason that it means much more to your child than you might think. Some kids lack confidence, and some don’t believe in themselves as much as they should, which is why they all need somebody to believe in them even when they don’t. So, keep praising your child, encouraging them, and telling them how proud you are every time they do their best. This way, they will be more likely to actually study, knowing that their success is appreciated and celebrated by the people closest to them.

Your child’s academic success does depend on how much they study, but there are many other factors that influence it as well, from their motivation to their parents’ reaction to their successes and failures. With that in mind, there are things you can do to improve your kid’s chances of success. So, consider the listed suggestions, apply them to your child, and you’re guaranteed to see the results sooner than you might think.

Local Branding

Digital Nomad Fashion – New Outfit Rules

Steven on April 23, 2019

Most people who work from 9 to 5 don’t understand the lifestyle of digital nomads. Instead of getting paid by their employers, getting all their benefits on the row, and traveling on vacation, these globetrotting professionals need to think about their day-to-day logistics 365 times a year. On the other hand, people are intrigued by their social media updates, check-ins from eclectic waterfront coffee shops, airy hotel rooms, verandas overlooking the valleys of greenery, and neatly packed minimalistic wardrobes. The unbearable lightness of traveling that these young people promote has become a source of inspirations for many fashionistas and designers, who’ve now embraced the concept of a comfortable yet stylish capsule wardrobe.

Simple but well-made

Much more than simply a way of running the business, the digital nomad life is a choice that demands that you’re often on the road. Once you’ve decided to accept it, you must also accept that your wardrobe needs to shrink accordingly. Schlepping a heavy suitcase around the terminals and narrow streets doesn’t really work for anybody. However, before you get to optimize your wardrobe, you need to consider a quality backpack. It needn’t be one that lets you camp out in Alaskan bush bivouac-style for two weeks – a 60+20 liter capacity is more than enough for hopping between places. It will be enough for carrying your clothes, toiletries, and essentials, while the detachable rucksack will take your laptop as hand luggage, or be your primary bag for town exploration. The choice of clothes needs to be basic, but the price tag shouldn’t compromise the quality. Instead of getting through three or four pairs of cheap jeans every year, it makes more sense to pay a bit more for something that lasts longer.

Bright new outlook

The freedom to work from wherever they want is the main motivation for many digital nomads. In most cases, it means working somewhere where the weather is warm and the sun shines much more often than it does in their home country. This also means that sunglasses should be a quintessential part of their wardrobe. When it comes to sunglasses, the vast majority of models are manufactured by the same company which works with most fashion houses and owns a lot of brands. While there are smaller brands who’re struggling to stay on the surface, online sales are their only chance. Your choice will ultimately depend on your personal preferences, but you should look somewhere along the lines of Oakley Holbrook, Tom Ford Henry, Ray-Ban Aviator, and Persol. These models come with durable plastic and metal frames while having a glass instead of polycarbonate lens makes cleaning much easier. Just make sure you don’t lose their hard case, as they’re to be knocked about quite a bit every time you need to move place.

Shoes made for walking

No matter where you travel, you’re likely to do a lot of walking, so having a pair of comfortable and lightweight shoes is more important having several statement pairs for different occasions. A quick visual survey of some of the most prolific digital nomad fashionistas’ Instagram profiles reveals that digital nomads have been following latest men’s Adidas footwear trends, appreciating the premier materials and timeless look of their sneaks that is easy to pull off with even darker jeans as well as with jogging pants. Those who are more into innovative materials and designs should consider some of modern Merino wool shoes with lightweight rubber soles. While wool shoes might not sound like something one would wear all day, Merino wool used in Allbirds Men’s Wool Runners has great temperature regulating and moisture wicking properties, and none of that irksome scratching we usually relate to wool.

Packable puffer jacket

Wherever you go, the nights are likely to get cold and rainy, even in the subtropical regions at a certain time of the year. With this in mind, a versatile and functional jacket is more than essential. However, not all jackets are made the same. A down-filled puffer jacket can protect you from wind and rain, but also be surprisingly warm, in case you find yourself in a part of the world where winters are real. The best feature, however, is that it can be rolled up and stored in your backpack, taking no more space than your Dopp kit. Unless you specifically plan on visiting extreme climates, toting a heavy-weight jacket around just in case doesn’t make sense.

While your clothing ultimately depends on the location and climate, breathable cotton or performance fabrics that can be easily washed on the go are always a great choice. While mainstream fashion experts have been developing the capsule wardrobe concept, the same evolution has been unfolding in backpacks of millions of digital nomads.

Local Branding

How to Boost Thermal Comfort in an Office Environment

Steven on April 22, 2019

With the number of time employees spend in their offices during the day, one of the main consideration for the employer should be to create an environment that is pleasant and comfortable to work in. The surroundings not only affect employees’ well-being and productivity, but also their satisfaction, dedication, and creativity. With this on the mind, modern office designs should strive not only towards creating inspiring and motivating spaces but also providing optimal comfort that ensures a smooth work process.

Specific challenges

As the global temperature is rising, the issue of thermal comfort in commercial environments is becoming more and more important. Interestingly, even with all the technological advancements we’ve accomplished to this day, the idea of a thermally comfortable office isn’t always realized. More electronic equipment generates additional heat, and every employee is different when it comes to a subjective level of thermal comfort and metabolic rate, which makes finding an optimal temperature inside the office impossible in some cases.

Insulate walls and roof

The first step in optimizing the thermal comfort in any indoor environment should be improving the wall and roof insulation. As in most commercial buildings internal walls are made of wood and drywall, they are thinner than the exterior ones and lightly insulated, which allows for easier heat transfer between the rooms. In addition, the roof can be a constant source of heat in the office, especially if your offices are located on the top floor. By upgrading the exterior and interior insulation, not only can you improve the thermal comfort for the employees, but also maximize your building energy efficiency.

Building orientation

Apart from wall and roof insulation, another constituent in your office thermal performance is the orientation of the building, position of windows and their exposure to sunlight. For example, in the southern hemisphere, offices that face north receive significantly more sunlight, and sun-generated heat, than those with south-facing windows. On a global level, sunlight yields about 164 Watts/m²in a 24-hour period. Although the figure varies greatly on the latitude and other geographical factors, considering solar thermal gains help you better understand the heating and cooling needs in your office.

Consider different window design

Different climates will require different solutions. For example, although they share about the same latitude, and should receive the same amount of sunlight throughout the day, Perth, Australia, and Santiago, Chile has a considerably different climate throughout the year. To an extent, exposure to sunlight can be controlled and modified by upgrading the window design. For instance, having double glazed windows in Perth can maintain a comfortable room temperature throughout the day, while allowing you to take advantage of the cool morning breezes coming from the sea. Optical grade acrylic glazing used in these windows is up to 6x more thermally efficient than glass.

Shortcomings of HVAC systems

While most offices rely on their HVAC systems for thermal control, they have proven insufficient in many cases, as their BTU formulas don’t include specific office features like renovations, different layouts, cubicles, as well as the heat from the electronics. HVAC calculation also disregards the orientation of windows, the position of the sun, and natural shade. When considering solutions to improve the thermal comfort in an office, all these factors need to be taken into account.

Placement of ventilation inlets/outlets

While the fact that cold air settles down and hot air rises are known to many, most people are unaware that the placement of inlets and outlets also has significant effects on indoor air circulation. By placing the outlet duct in the opposite direction from the inlet, you can increase the air turbulence in the room. While not all office designs and layouts will make this possible, if you manage to find the most favorable location for inlet and outlet ducts, you’ll be able to save on your cooling, as well as to recirculate the hot and stale indoor air.

When you consider and apply few of these solutions, apart from optimizing the thermal comfort in your place of business, which is directly related to the overall employee comfort, satisfaction, and productivity, you can also end up using energy more efficiently, cutting utility bills, and even increasing the property value.

Local Branding

Smart Ways to Reduce Startup Expenditures

Steven on April 17, 2019

Starting a company is always a great challenge, with many uncertainties waiting around the corner. Is your idea good enough? Will people respond to it? Are you going to cover all the costs and create a sustainable business? All these questions and many more linger in the minds of those about to embark on the track of entrepreneurship. Still, everyone agrees that the way you start has the greatest effect on the future.

So, what are the typical problems at a very early age? Securing financial backup and having a clear idea about how the business should be run spring to mind. With around 90 percent of all startups failing in the first year, getting it right from the very beginning is crucial. One of the things you need to ensure is that you don’t waste any money, especially when starting a company. Let’s take a look at some tips that should help you keep your costs to the minimum.

Rental costs

Success can greatly depend on the location of your office, as we all know. The more you depend on it, the fewer options you have at your disposal. If you have to work 24/7, sharing the premises with some other business in order to save money on the rent is impossible. However, if your business is such that will allow you to split the rental costs with some other company, make sure you use the opportunity to do so. Sharing office space with another business can be tricky, but if done correctly, it can save both you and the other company a lot of money and could easily be the difference between making it and breaking it.

Purchase in bulk

It’s understandable that startups wish to limit the expenditure by buying small quantities of items they need and repeating such purchases more frequently. However, in doing so, they are actually spending much more than necessary. Office equipment and stationery are the things each company needs and they are best bought in bulk. Also, finding a reliable supplier, like Winc Australia, for example, who will offer free delivery and match any lower price you find for the same items, is very important if you want to keep your expenditure low. Naturally, you shouldn’t clutter your office with the stuff you won’t be needing any time soon, but if you have a suitable storage facility, this is a chance to save some big bucks.

Streamline and automate as much as possible

Many startups fall into the trap of having everyone doing everything, powered and inspired mostly by the thrill of setting up a new business. Still, that fuel doesn’t last forever. People get tired, disillusioned and realize that there is no method in the madness. The right way to go about it, which is going to save you both human and financial resources, is to automate processes such as payroll, accounting, and administration as much as possible from the start. The more you allow yourself and your colleagues to focus on work, the better it will be for the company.

Consider hiring freelancers

If the nature of your business allows it, think about employing freelance employees instead of full-time ones. The latter cost more, since you have to pay for a full-time salary, sick-leaves, benefits, equipment, and other expenses. Such costs are non-existent when it comes to freelancers and that can save you quite a lot. Just make sure you aren’t breaking any laws when offering such employment since one lawsuit can easily be the end of your startup.

Plan and monitor expenses

It’s vital that you make a plan for your expenditure and monitor where, when and how much of your money is spent. Make sure you don’t forget things such as insurance, utilities, salaries, and others, which are often overlooked as something that will figure itself out. Without a plan, you’ll never be able to know if you’re doing something right and if your business is successful or not. What you also have to plan is the period after which your company should start making a profit. However, in order to live to see that day, you have to be extremely careful with your expenditure before that moment.

What you need to understand when starting up a business is that there are no guarantees and that in order to succeed, you have to do several things right. In the beginning, you have very little margin for error, which makes the task even more challenging. On the other hand, every successful company was once a startup, which means you too can do it. However, you need to be doing a lot of things right from the onset.

Local Branding Uncategorized

How to Make a Living Abroad

Steven on April 1, 2019

Living abroad is never easy, and adjusting to this situation takes a lot of effort. You’re far away from home and nowhere close to people who can give you comfort, strength, and support, and that can turn out to be rather scary. Another problem you may face is trying to make a living, which is quite hard no matter where you are and what kind of work you did back home. Today, people change careers more easily than ever, and you need to be adaptable in order to survive, so if you too are starting to live in a foreign country and don’t know how to survive financially, here are a few suggestions that might give you inspiration.

image freelancing

Become a freelancer

In this day and age, it doesn’t really matter who you are, where you’re coming from and what you do – as long as you have a computer and a connection to the Internet, you can make a living by freelancing. This is a great opportunity for anyone who’s just moved to a new country and can’t find work, and it’s even better if you have some experience too.

Freelancing will give you a chance to travel the world and have lots of different experiences, but also allow you to make a decent living. Still, be sure to explore all the details of freelancing in a foreign country – especially the legal boundaries that may or may not apply – before you actually start doing it, just to make sure nothing bad happens.

Become a writer

Being a writer is one of the best jobs in the world, but it’s one of those things that don’t feel like hard work even though they actually are. If you want to become a good writer, you need to invest time into getting there – reading, practicing, editing your own work, etc.

The reason why writing is so great for all those people moving to a foreign country is that they can do that wherever they are. Whether you’re a content writer, a journalist, a poet or a fiction writer, all you need is a computer, and you’re good to go. So, if you’re struggling with a career abroad, take this idea into consideration, and you’ll surely find a way to make a living by writing.

Become a teacher

This is another amazing idea for all those creative people out there who are good with words but are struggling to find work. If English is your native language, you’ll surely be able to work as an English teacher anywhere in the world, from South America to Asia, and you often won’t need any qualifications at all. You can even turn this into a full-time position, especially if you’re in Hong Kong, for instance, so consider joining the professional Monkey Tree ESL team, and you might be on the road towards finding work in no time at all.

People who speak English fluently aren’t the only ones who can start teaching – on the contrary, being fluent in languages like Japanese, French or Arabic can be more than helpful in certain parts of the world. This means you’re different from all those English teachers and can give the local community something special, and that means you’ll find work easily.

Become an au pair

If you love children and don’t mind living in someone else’s home, this is the perfect job for you. Most people aren’t aware that au pairs can earn a considerable amount of money in certain countries, not to mention free board and food. This experience will also help you work on your language skills, especially if you’re taking care of younger kids.

If you’ve never done this in your life, don’t worry – au pairs don’t need any particular skills or previous experience, although having some could only benefit you and help you make even more money. What’s also great is that you’ll probably get the weekends off, which means you’ll be free to explore the country you’re living in and enjoy all of its beauties.

Living abroad is a challenge, but if you get a great job, it doesn’t have to be too hard, so just find something you like and enjoy the next chapter of your life.

Local Branding

How to Design a Retail Store That Attracts Customers

Steven on March 27, 2019

Designing an interior for a retail store is all about psychology. You see, it’s not just about putting all of your inventory on display, it’s also about the way you display accent pieces, push slow-moving products, and guide the shopper on their journey through your store in general. One wrong design choice and you can lose their interest and force them out the way they came, so all the more reason to employ the best practices in the field to keep them inside and inspire them to make a positive decision.

From the first thing they encounter at the front door, to the pathways that permeate your store, all the way to focal points and speed bumps to make them hang out in a particular section, there’s plenty that goes into organizing a retail store interior. Let’s take a look at the best practices in the industry that will attract shoppers.

Mind the decompression zone

Greeting your customers with amazing products and promotions as soon as they walk in might seem like the sensible thing to do – after all, you want to grab their attention before they’ve had the chance to reconsider. However, over the years this has proven not to be the case. In fact, what you should do is give your customers some space.

Also known as the “decompression zone”, the first ten to fifteen feet of space serve the purpose of acclimating your visitors to your interior, which means that the majority of products displayed here tend to get overlooked. Shoppers will notice other features such as lighting, colors, fixtures, and advertisements in order to gain a perception of your brand. With that in mind, it’s essential that you allow them to breathe and form a positive opinion, so refrain from putting products here.

Put your best offer to the right

Upon entering, 90% of customers will turn to the right without even realizing. This inadvertent decision creates an amazing opportunity for you to design this area for maximum impact and engagement, so be sure to put your best-performing products here. Also known as the “power wall”, the first wall they encounter will serve a distinct purpose of grabbing their attention, and even making a quick sale. Most importantly, it will inspire them to peruse the rest of your store.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to clutter the wall with all of your top-selling merchandise. Instead, devise a theme that will appeal to your customers, such as a wall with high-demand products, or a wall with discounts. You can even combine the products with brand messages in order influence their decision-making process through the power of storytelling.

Offer Quick Checkout Options

Many store owners now offer state of the art point of sale systems to aid the customer with faster self-checkout. According to TopPOSSystem.Com, retail stores that changed their design to include point of sale system saw a sales increase of 25%.

Design shelving and displays with functionality in mind

Functionality is the key to effective store design, as the products you display should not only be within easy reach, but should also be stored safely and preferably without cluttering the interior or making perusing a cumbersome chore. Needless to say, this is a delicate process in which you will need to experiment with different shelving options to suit your needs.

Once you have measured the amount of space you have available for your merchandise, you can research the types of industrial storage shelving in order to find the best storage solution for your layout and the amount of space you have to work with. Be sure to use industrial-grade shelving for all cumbersome items that need to be stored in a safe way with no risk of falling on the unsuspecting customers.

Guide your shoppers on a journey

The modern shopper wants and needs to be guided on their shopping journey. If you don’t carve a path for them through your store, they’re either going to miss out on some of your amazing products, or they’re going to get confused and walk away. Needless to say, you can’t let this happen if you want to make a sale, and more importantly, generate repeat customers.

To achieve these goals, you can start by placing furniture, ads, road signs, as well as racks and displays to help your customer navigate the maze of merchandise and devote their full attention to every aisle. Provided that the path has started at the wall to the right, you want to guide your customers along the racks to the back of the store, and then counterclockwise along the left side and towards the exit. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t position strategic focal points throughout and even “speed bumps” that will make the slow down and stay engaged.

Emphasize personal space and comfort

There is an interesting phenomenon in the retail industry, popularly known as the “butt-brush effect”. In essence, people do not want to brush their respective derrieres with other customers, and they will even refrain from venturing into certain parts of the store if they think that these space is too narrow for comfort. This common design mistake will leave the area deserted and the merchandise within, unsold.

To prevent losing money on this simple design tweak, just make sure to put your customers’ comfort first. Broaden the aisles, declutter the racks and shelves, and create plenty of floor space to prevent the dreaded “butt-brushing”. This might be a difficult task, especially if you have plenty of merchandise on your hands, but it will nonetheless prove essential for the overall customer experience in your store.

The contemporary retail store design aims to simplify the shopping journey, influence the decision-making process in a positive way, and generate recurring business for your brand. Use these essential design tips to appeal to the modern customer and take your retail store to new levels of success.

Local Branding

The Definitive Guide To Getting Your Commercial Pilot License

Steven on March 25, 2019

Getting a commercial pilot license is quite essential if you are looking to begin a career as a pilot. But first, you need to understand what a commercial pilot is and what they do.

So many people make the mistake of considering every commercial pilot as an airline pilot. While an airline pilot can be considered as a commercial pilot, not every commercial pilot can be considered as an airline pilot.

There are many opportunities laid out for commercial pilots. A commercial pilot can be a tour pilot, cargo pilot, corporate pilot, or even a pilot flying for the government. In fact, there are commercial pilots that are Certified Flight Instructors (CFI). They can also be ferry pilots, backcountry pilots, or glider tow pilots.

Basically, a commercial pilot is someone who is certified by the FAA to legally charge people for flying services. An airline pilot, on the other hand, flies for an airline or a regularly scheduled carrier.

A person with a commercial pilot license can fly for anyone and charge money. However, if you want to start flying for an airline, thereby becoming an airline pilot, you will have to meet some additional requirements, such as obtaining the Airline Transport Certificate and working for some certified operator before being able to charge money.

Generally, commercial pilots are tasked with the responsibility of flying an aircraft. However, they have other job duties including, air traffic control communications, controlling and operating the plane, navigating the aircraft, ensuring that the plane is well-balanced, and monitoring gauges.

Career Essentials

Degree Level – To get your commercial pilot license and become a commercial pilot, you don’t necessarily need a degree. However, there are some airlines and employers who may require that you have at least two years of college or a bachelor’s degree.
Experience – To be considered as a commercial airline pilot, you must be at least 21 years of age. And you must have logged at least 1,500 hours of flight time.
Key Skills – You must have good communication skills, great health, and an excellent vision. Your aeronautical knowledge must be sound too.
Licensure and Certification – You must pass the practical test for licensing, which is usually set up by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Certification is needed in order to work for commercial carriers. You also need to have logged at least 250 hours of flight time.

How Exactly Do I Get My Commercial Pilot License?

Assuming you have no flying experience, which is usually the case for most prospective pilots, you need to take the steps below in order to fully become a commercial pilot and also have your commercial pilot license.

The first thing you’ll need to do is earn your Private Pilot License, otherwise known as PPL. It is the first step and it provides you with the freedom to fly a single-engine aircraft under the Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
The next step involves earning your Instrument Rating (IFR), also known as Instrument Flight Rules. With the IFR, you’ll have the ability to fly in bad weather.
Once you are through with that, you’ll move on to the Multi-Engine rating. With this, you’ll be able to fly multi-engine aircrafts.

To begin the next step, you must be at least 18 years old, and you must also hold a 2nd Class Medical Certificate. If you meet this requirement, you can go on to:

Acquire your Commercial Pilot Licenses, otherwise known as CPL. You’ll need to have logged at least 250 hours of flying time, take your written FAA exam, and pass your FAA check-ride. The 250 hours of logged flight time needs to include fifty hours cross-country and 100 hours as a Pilot in Command (PIC).

When you’re done with your CPL, you can now build hours towards attaining your ATP in order to become a CFI. Becoming a CFI usually requires that you take additional steps.

If you plan to work as a commercial airline captain in the United States, you’ll need to build 1,500 hours of flight time. And working as a CFI is one of the best ways to build more hours toward that goal.

Additionally, before you can be allowed to fly commercial passenger aircrafts, you’ll need an ATP license. And to get the Airline Transport Pilot license, you’ll need to have logged 1,500 hours of flight time. One of the better options for getting licensed to fly and begin applying for positions is to attend a commercial airline pilot flight school like AeroGuard Flight Training Center or another elite program in the USA.

Conclusion

That’s all to getting a commercial pilot license. All you have to do is engage in pilot trainings, such as maintenance, maneuvering, and communications, log 250 hours of flight time, and pass the FAA practical tests, which would involve a number of operational tasks, exhibition of your flying skills, and your ability to meet industry standards.

You’ll also need to pass a written test, which you’ll use to demonstrate how knowledgeable you are concerning the regulations, navigation, and safety of aircrafts.

Local Branding

Office Design: What Does It Say about Your Brand?

Steven on March 24, 2019

Image source

Stretched thin between trying to stay above the surface and deciding on the right marketing approach for their products or services, not many startup owners have time to consider what their office design says about their brand. However, when it comes to the appearance of the office, there’s rarely a second chance. The moment a new client or potential partner walks into your place of business, the impression they get directly translates to you as an organization. The question, however, remains whether you are making the desired impression?

More than meets the eye

At this point, you need to clearly define what message do you want your office to send about your brand. Would it be a statement of a strong and energetic enterprise? Is there an element of clockwork precision, planning, and organization? Does the place look like it attracts goal-achievers? Perhaps the target clientele is family-oriented, so you want to stress your origins as a family-run business. When considering the details of your office design, you need to account for every inch of your space, as all those details reflect your brand’s values, culture, and core beliefs.

Entrance

Before visitors even enter your place of business, it’s important they have a prelude of what they’re going to see. The entryway, together with the company parking, walkways, and landscaping needs to be clean and inviting, but also to reflect the seasonal mood and festivities. Add decorative items to make it more welcoming. When coming for the first time, people don’t know what to expect, and if the entry area is poorly maintained, the initial tone would be a wrong one.

Reception area

As new clients step into your reception/waiting area, the first thing they’ll notice is its appearance. If you want to impose a serious no-nonsense tone, opt for a dark hardwood desk and chairs. However, if you accent them with bright colours, you automatically infuse the setup with a sense of humour, making the whole place warm and welcoming. On the other hand, bright coloured furniture and wall treatments will paint your company’s portrait as vibrant and lively. On top of it, the kind of furniture, colours, and logo display have a big role in perceiving your business as more or less successful.

Traditional or open plan?

A traditional arrangement with private offices and cubicles always convey an image of privacy and confidentiality. While in creative industries this might be perceived as unwelcoming and unimaginative, it suits perfectly for insurance, financial, and security business niches. An open plan is more suited for companies that want to emphasize their flexibility, cooperative values, and sharing which they aim to invest in their business. If you are not sure which approach to use, consult a construction company which specializes in design and construction of commercial developments with aesthetically appealing outcomes aimed at maximizing your returns.

Exterior

The way your office looks from the outside is just as important as its interior design. Current trends for exterior facades propose the use of lightweight aluminium cladding, comprised of a fire-resistant core with non-combustible minerals sandwiched between two aluminium sheets. In addition to meeting rigorous safety standards, the use of aluminium composite panels is also cost-effective and low-maintenance, and with a practically unlimited colour range that is available today, you can easily incorporate it into your brand identity.

Transitions and lights

The way one space flows into another makes a big difference in how your business is perceived. When a visitor to your space is met with a glass door, they subconsciously see transparency as one of your core values. The more they are able to see your business in action the more they are likely to trust you with their money. The lighting also plays an important role. An office that offers bright, but layered and non-invasive lighting brings on liveliness but also a degree of sophistication.

Office greenery

In order to present their business as environmentally conscious, many offices bring the outdoors inside by resorting to living walls, water features, skylights, and other elements that create an atmosphere of growth and natural cycles. In a simple variant, you can add greenery to your office by choosing office plants which apart from purifying the air, reduce stress and absenteeism. Succulents, for example, are perfect for office environments as they thrive in dry areas, which means their leaves won’t wither in case someone forgets to water them two days in a row.

The way you design your office interior not only advertises the inner culture of your company but also affects how your brand is seen among many others. For your employees, the office design can increase their productivity and efficiency, while for your clients, a positive impression of your space will reinforce their faith in your brand and organization.

Digital Branding Local Branding

5 Things That You Need to Invest in When Starting Your Business

Steven on March 23, 2019

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Starting a business is hard, but fun. It’s a dream for many people who want financial freedom and a vehicle to express their creativity while making a living. Whatever your goals area in launching a new venture, here are 5 things that you need to invest in right away early in your journey.

1. Invest In Yourself

New entrepreneurs sometimes forget that they are their business. It’s a direct expression of who they are as people and as business owners. Your business will reflect your values and your level of competency.

Leadership expert John Maxwell talks about the Law of the Lid. It’s a principle that essentially states that your organization’s effectiveness cannot exceed the leadership ability of the leader.

One area you should invest in yourself in first is in business acumen. That is the ability to understand finance and make good business decisions.

Many entrepreneurs are really great at their market and product. They know exactly what kind of styles their apparel customers want in their niche market. They know what kind of widget the companies in their industry needs. But they don’t often know how to run the finance side of running a business.

Roughly half of all startup business in the US fail in the first 5 years. Most don’t fail due to lack of demand for their product or even from not making a profit.

Most fail because they run out of cash. Essentially, these business owners don’t know how to manage their cash flow. Cash management is a real skill set, and it’s something that can be learned.

In addition to business acumen, other areas for investment include marketing, sales, leadership, and communications. Even as you grow, leaders should be readers. Never stop learning.

2. Invest In Your Team

Great companies are built on great people. That means you must invest in your people.

Developing and training is a vital part of employee engagement. You don’t want robots working for you. You want human beings that can problem solve, come up with creative ideas and make their own good decisions for the benefit of the company. That doesn’t happen without development.

Ongoing coaching is invaluable as well. People need regular feedback, encouragement, and direction. If you want your employees to grow and contribute well, you must water them with training, coaching, and affirmation.

3. Invest In Quality Branding

Investing in good graphics and marketing material early on will pay great dividends as you launch. A great logo can do wonders for making your business look credible, professional and reliable.

Even if you have to pay a graphic designer a lot of money, it’ll be well worth it. This is especially if you’re doing a consumer retail business.

For example, if you start an apparel business, good design is a baseline need. You can just consider it the startup costs of starting a clothing business, because your company can’t even launch without good graphics.

Shoddy graphics is a sign of a company that operates haphazardly and an indication that the business won’t last long. No one wants to do business with a loser.

4. Invest In Social Media

Social media has leveled the playing field for small businesses. It provides a very inexpensive way for brands to get their message out to the masses.

Investing in it early on will get you started on the long journey of gaining followers and becoming an influencer. It takes time for brands to get recognized and trusted on social media, so starting early is important.

5. Invest In Website SEO

Another aspect of marketing you should invest in right away is a website with good SEO. It takes time for Google and other search engines to trust a website enough to rank it. It also takes time to gain page authority for search engines to rank it high on the first page.

The age of the website matters when it comes to SEO. As Sewport CEO Boris Hodakel likes to say, “Starting small and niche doesn’t mean your business will stay that way.”.

When you have this type of long term view of your business, you’ll want to start building your SEO right away. You’ll instinctively know that getting ranked high on Google, although won’t pay off in the short term, will have lasting effects as you grow.

Early Investments Pay Off

There are a few things that can’t wait for later. These are the things that are foundational to the success of your new business and well worth your time and investment early on. It’ll set you up for short and long term success.

Local Branding

Everything You Need to Know to Prepare for Surgery

Steven on March 13, 2019

When doctors start mentioning surgery, it causes fear and confusion in many people. However, every day, thousands of people undergo surgery that saves their life or improves it tremendously. In order to have a smooth procedure and fast recovery, here are a few things you have to consider and take care of before your surgery.

A healthy lifestyle as a part of an everyday routine

The time period before your surgery can be quite stressful. However, in order to be in top shape for your procedure, make sure to be as active as you can, eat well and get plenty of sleep. Smoking can cause respiratory problems and make your anesthesia and surgery recovery harder, so if you’re a smoker, try to stop, even if it’s just for a few days before the surgery. All other steps will be taken care of by your medical team—you only need to pay attention to your health and wellbeing so you’re physically and mentally ready for your surgery.

Try to inquire as much as you can about the procedure

If you don’t like going into things without knowing what to expect, make sure to read about your procedure. Specialists like Dr Timothy Steel post short surgery videos and written explanations of the entire operation, so his patients can know exactly what to expect. You can feel more relaxed and excited to undergo the operation when you know more about the procedures. However, if you know you’re squeamish, it’s better to stay away from such content and put all your trust in your surgeon. They know what they’re doing!

Avoid surprises

For some, surgery is a very smooth experience, while some tend to feel groggy, confused and nauseous after an operation. If this is your first surgery, you probably don’t know what to expect right after you wake up from your anesthesia. Muscle aches and sore throat are all normal and usually disappear shortly after the surgery. You can even get medication to relieve the pain and discomfort once you’re in the recovery room. Starting to move as soon as possible is very important to your recovery. Nurses will encourage you to get out of bed and take a few steps once you get stable. It is normal to feel tired and weak at first place, but as you continue to move, your body’s functions will return to normal.

Organize your commitments

Try your best to take care of your immediate commitments that might be waiting for you when you get back from the hospital, in order to be completely dedicated to your recovery. Arrange some time away from work and ensure you don’t have any upcoming family, friends and other commitments. Also, if your home is going to be left empty for more than a week, you might need to hire someone to pick up your mail, water your plants and walk your dog. Depending on your time spent in the hospital, they even might need to pay bills and handle other things while you’re away.

Ask for help

Organizing post-surgery care is also important. It’s great to find someone to cook for you, hand you things and help you get dressed because you probably won’t be able to take full care of yourself when you get home. Some surgeries also require you to take care of your incision, so if it’s in a hard-to-reach spot, you’ll need help with that as well. Having someone by your side is also practical in case you experience any issues like fever, bleeding or nausea. Your aid can contact your health care provider and get advice on further steps.

Now that you know how to prepare for your surgery and what to expect when you wake up from anesthesia, you can go to your surgery fully concentrated on your recovery. With some good planning and prep, you’ll be back to your old self in no time!