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Casinos Use Programmable Signs to Attract Crowds
- By Jeremy Smith
- Published 01/7/2010
- Business
Casino signs do more than just announce the casino's name to the world. With the benefit of modern technology, computerized signs create exciting displays that bring in a steady stream of customers.
Building Design Benefits from 3D Design Software
- By Jeremy Smith
- Published 01/7/2010
- Business
The latest generation of 3D design software offers building owners new insight into how construction projects will affect the final look of a building. Design professionals use the software to help clients visualize their proposals and save money on construction costs.
How Call Centers Increase Profitability with Real-Time Call Center Reporting
- By Christine OKelly
- Published 09/25/2009
- Business
In business, time is money. And businesses operate in
"real time" -- especially in a call center environment. In order for
a center to be effective, reports must provide management with complete
real-time data so that agents and managers can modify their company's behavior
quickly to achieve higher productivity and efficiency and thus be more profitable.
Real-time call center reporting delivers key indicators in an instant by
showing performance over the last hour, day, week, month, etc.
Is Dirty Power Ruining Your Equipment?
- By Christine OKelly
- Published 08/28/2009
- Business
Frequent
component failures can be frustrating and hard to track down. If you are
suffering above average failure rates in electronic components, it could be a
symptom that your business has dirty power.
What Is Dirty Power?
When we
consider the electricity coming out of the wall, we tend to think of it as a
steady stream like water from a tap. In a perfect world that would be right,
but in reality the electrical signal varies and that can damage equipment.
The most
common example of poor power quality is a surge cause by a lightning strike.
This brief period of high voltage can literally fry equipment. However there
are many other power quality problems that can insidiously damage equipment
over time. Electrical signals can experience swells or sags as equipment is
turned on and off, such as the way the lights dim briefly when high-power
equipment is turned on. Noise in the signal can cause fluctuating voltages. Any
of these problems can wear out electronic components.
How Do I Know If I Have Dirty Power?
Plants use
panel meters to monitor the condition of the power entering their facilities.
These panel meters might be placed just on the main line coming into the
building or could be used to check power in individual pieces of equipment.
Panel
meters can detect transient voltage changes, ongoing fluctuations and other
problems. Technicians can examine readings to see if the electrical signal is
pure or not. If power quality problems are detected, they can nail down exactly
what kind of problems are being experienced. Once the panel meters have
detected the low quality power, decisions can be made about how to deal with
the situation and protect the expensive equipment that will be damaged by the
poor quality power.
How Can I Fix Dirty Power?
Your
electrical utility is obligated to deliver clean power. If a panel meter shows
the power coming onto the property is low quality, contact the electric company
so they can address the problem. However the utility's obligation ends at the
property line. In large industrial plants, large pieces of equipment create
quality problems in the plant-wide grid.
Power
conditioners regulate the electrical signal and prevent dangerous signals from
reaching the equipment and causing damage. A power conditioner acts as a surge
suppressor, preventing dangerous overvoltages from causing equipment failure,
but also cleans up the power signal and protects against undervoltages or other
problems.
The cost of
a power conditioner is fairly low, almost certainly far lower than the
equipment being protected. They provide ongoing protection, which will extend
the life of electrical components and in the event of disaster are designed to
"take the bullet," protecting attached equipment by burning out.
If you
suspect dirty power, the first step is to install panel meters throughout the
plant to verify power quality. Do it now before poor quality power can damage
more equipment.
How to Create Effective Window Graphics
- By Christine OKelly
- Published 08/25/2009
- Business
The windows
of your business are an advertising space you have full control over. The
visual displays you choose will have a strong impact on how many people notice
your store and impulsively decide to come in. What elements make the best window graphics?
Keep It Simple
People can
absorb only so much information. Cluttered window display signage is likely to
confuse people and obscure your message. When presented with busy visual
information, our brains filter out images without realizing it. This means the
more information in your window graphics, the less people actually see.
The
graphics should be easy to see. Window displays should be clearly visible day
or night. The entire display should be well lit and additional lighting can
draw attention to particular elements. Motion is another way to attract
attention whether it's a simple blinking light or an actual moving object.
Despite the
advice to keep it simple, there is evidence that companies with younger
clientele should opt for more complicated displays. The younger generation has
grown up on information overload and has become so effective at filtering out
noise that they don't even see simpler window graphics.
Focus on Merchandise
We've all
seen those television commercials that are exciting and interesting, yet when
the commercial is over we can't remember what they were selling. That is not
effective advertising. Promotion is about products and if viewers don't know
what you are selling, why should they come into the store?
Your window
graphics should highlight store merchandise. It isn't enough to bring in
customers. You want to bring in customers with the desire to buy. Your visual
displays allow you to motivate customers to buy and to direct their attention
to merchandise you are trying to move.
Don't use
merchandise you think you will run out of. Customers leave unhappy if they
can't get what they wanted. Focus on high inventory items in your promotions.
Get Professional Design Help
It may seem
easy to design window graphics, but the difference between a good design and a
bad design is hard for the untrained eye to spot. Rather than doing it
yourself, hire experienced design specialists to create your visual displays.
Effective
window graphics come from combining countless ideas and elements such as color,
shape, lighting, placement and more. When you create the displays yourself you
probably aren't even aware of how strong an effect these different aspects can
have. You are likely to end up trying to merge random advice like "group
objects in odd numbers" or "display items in pyramids" without
really understanding their effect on the overall design.
A
professional display designer brings years of experience to the project and is
able to combine design ideas on an intuitive level, producing graphics greatly
superior to do-it-yourself attempts.
Maximizing The Power of Architectural Signage
- By Christine OKelly
- Published 07/28/2009
- Business
A number of
businesses underestimate the power of architectural signage. An organization
that embraces the potential and creates a powerful sign will see a direct
increase in customer traffic and profitability.
The Power of the Sign
Architectural
signage is not just a label on your building. It is a powerful advertisement.
If you tried to put a billboard that big on your property, it would probably
violate city ordinances. But a sign on the building allows you to promote your
business and attract new customers.
Often the
first thing people see as they approach your business is the architectural
signage. It sets the mood. A sloppy, amateurish sign tells people you are a
sloppy, amateurish business. A well designed display instills in customers a
sense of confidence in your business.
The sign
also says a lot about what kind of business you are. An insurance company and a
nightclub aren't likely to use the same style of sign because they aren't
trying to create the same image in the marketplace.
Architectural Signage Is About
Architecture
To make the
most powerful statement, architectural signage should be designed to complement
the style of the building. It should merge into the overall look of the
business, not but placed upon it. Ideally, it should be physically integrated
into the building.
However
even if your business is using a rented building, you can still create
architectural signage that takes advantage of the natural features of the
building's architecture and surroundings. Again, consider the statement you are
making. You don't want to say, "We are here just temporarily." You
want to become an icon in the area, a permanent fixture in the customer's mind,
and the permanence of your sign does a lot to create and reinforce that
message.
Integrate Your Own Style
The design
of the architectural signage should also consider your business identity and
branding. All exterior signage from parking arrows to window graphics should
work with the main sign to create a unified theme. Depending on whether you own
or rent the building you might have limited control over other signage, but as
much as possible you should create a single, powerful image.
This image
should continue inside the business. Interior visual displays should match the
theme. Even signs on the restrooms should incorporate the style you are trying
to create. These images work together to create strong branding in the minds of
customers. The visual identity of your business is a powerful promotional tool.
There are
many marketing studies that have demonstrated that effective architectural
signage has a direct effect on the profitability of a business. Companies need
every advantage they can get in today's competitive world. The money spent on
well-designed, professional signage will be recouped in no time.
Building Accounting Partnerships in a Recession
- By Christine OKelly
- Published 07/20/2009
- Business
Some
economic analysts label an economic downturn as a recession by examining
leading financial indicators. Others judge it by a less exact measure: fear. As
the economy stumbles, business owners may panic and make bad choices. Those
decisions hurt the business and ultimately the economy. This is the time to
form partnerships with other organizations such as virtual accounting
departments which can provide sanity checks, keeping you in tune with what's
really going on.
Outsiders Provide
Objectivity
One
of many advantages of working with a virtual accounting department is the
perspective they bring. If there is a sense of panic in an organization, it
will infiltrate all departments. Internal accountants and bookkeepers may
become so focused on an organization's woes that they lose sight of the bigger
economic picture.
A
virtual accounting department has a larger view of the local, national or
global financial picture. Because they work with many organizations across a
wide segment of the economy, they can see strengths in your company that you
might not. While most businesses are hurting right now, many are still
financially healthy. If your business is suffering fewer losses than others in
the industry and has the resources to ride out the hard times, you are
positioned to recover quickly when things turn around.
Professionals Manage
your Money Better
This
is the time to squeeze every advantage out of your organization. It's not
enough just to monitor your money. You have to manage it efficiently. An
experienced virtual accounting department can help find ways to make your money
work harder for you. They provide a level of analysis you wouldn't have if your
company's finances are being managed by bookkeepers who simply enter numbers
without examination.
Putting
your books in the hands of professionals gives you peace of mind. You no longer
have to face the demoralizing effect of daily bad news. The knowledge that a
skilled virtual accounting department is overseeing financial operations allows
you to relax and turn your attention to forming strategies to deal with the
problems and strengthen the organization.
Virtual Accounting
Departments are Cost Effective
Outsourced
accounting services provide the benefits of an internal operation without the
expense of office space, employee benefits, equipment and more. They run leaner
and that means your accounting dollar goes farther, an important strategy
during this difficult period. You retain full control of your books, but don't
have to interview, hire and manage the financial professionals needed.
Using
virtual accounting departments allows companies to remain flexible. As demand
fluctuates so do staffing needs. The need to layoff then rehire people in
response to changing market conditions is hard on a company. The cost of hiring
and training is wasted if those people have to be let go in a few months. External
accounting services easily adjust to your organization's changing finances. When
the economy turns around, you can quickly expand to meet increased business.
The Benefits of Accrual Basis Accounting for Large Businesses
- By Christine OKelly
- Published 07/20/2009
- Business
The
IRS recognizes two methods of accounting: cash and accrual. As a rule, small
businesses operate on cash basis and large ones on accrual. It is common for
growing businesses to convert from cash to accrual as their annual revenues
climb into the millions and most of them find an outsourced accounting
department to be a necessity for this operation.
What Are the
Advantages of Accrual Basis Accounting?
Cash
accounting operates the way we run our personal finances. We put transactions
in our books when they happen. We enter our paychecks when they get deposited,
not when we work the hours. The rent check is logged when written, not
necessarily on the first of the month. The problem with cash accounting is it
doesn't provide an accurate financial picture.
In
accrual accounting, financial transactions are entered into the books when they
happen even if no money has changed hands yet. Invoices are logged when service
is provided, not when a customer pays. Similarly, bookkeeping services enter
expenses as they happen not when the check is written.
Including
outstanding expenses and income creates an accurate profile of how the company
is faring in real time. However it is a system which is harder for
non-professionals to grasp and typically an outsourced accounting department is
needed to administer an accrual system.
Who Should Use
Accrual Basis?
In
theory every business should use accrual basis. It is the professional
accounting system most Generally Accepted Accounting Practices are built
around. Realistically, the increased complication of the system and the added
expense of hiring an outsourced accounting department makes less optimal for
businesses below a certain size. Very small businesses can get by using a cash
system, though an organization can never go wrong using accrual.
Per
IRS regulations, any company generating over $10 million in annual revenue must
use accrual. Businesses generating between $1 million and $10 million in
revenue in the wholesale, retail, publishing, sound recording or mining
industries must use accrual as well. Finally, partnerships, tax shelters and
some farming corporations must use accrual regardless of revenue.
If
you are unsure if your organization falls into these categories, an outsourced
accounting department can help you make the determination.
Do You Need
Professional Help?
Very
few organizations can administer an accrual system without the benefit of an
internal or outsourced accounting department. Some companies manage their own
cash systems, but the complexities of accrual are beyond a typical bookkeeper.
Conversion
to accrual should be part of an overall revision of a company's finances from
the haphazard shoebox accounting small businesses might use to a professional
financial system that grows with the company. However the system needs
experienced and educated professionals to administer it properly.
An
outsourced accounting department eases the transition to the new system and
takes over the daily operations. The business owner can step back and take a
big picture view of the operation, a necessary step as the company expands.
Three Triple Diamond Baseball Cards That Can Improve The Energy Of Your Investment Portfolio
- By Christine OKelly
- Published 07/17/2009
- Business
Almost everyone's
heard the story of the kid who's spent countless hours and energy pouring over
triple diamond baseball cards, only to discover Mom threw out the entire
collection before realizing how valuable it was. Baseball cards were once a
valid investment tool, but what about now? Can you really improve the energy of
your investment portfolio using these triple diamond baseball cards? These
three cards are rare and should be snapped up if you ever come across one.
1909 Honus Wagner
Card
In 1991, the near
mint condition 1909 Honus Wagner card was purchased by hockey great Wayne
Gretzky for $451,000. The card changed hands in 1995, 1996, 2000, 2007 and
finally sold for $2.8 million in 2008. Industry experts estimate that the card
would be worth $3 million today, making this triple diamond baseball card one
of the best around for improving your portfolio's energy. In this market, it's
unheard of for an investment value to increase $200,000 in just one year.
Another Honus
Wagner rookie card in good condition is said to be worth between $250,000 -
$350,000. A Honus Wagner card has proven to be a solid investment regardless of
the condition.
1869 Cincinnati Red
Team Card
In 2008, an antique
store owner in Fresno, California made an amazing discovery. While getting
ready to list a box of miscellaneous items on eBay, the owner found a triple
diamond baseball card that would change the energy of her financial well-being.
The owner, not knowing exactly how valuable the card was, listed it on the
auction site for $10.
Within hours she
had received multiple inquiries. She decided to pull the auction and take the
card to an expert. What she found astounded her - the card was actually 139
years old and was the first baseball card ever printed. In February 2009, the
card sold for $75,000 and the value is expected to rise.
1914 Baltimore News
Babe Ruth Card
In mid 2008, the
1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card sold for $517,000, doubling its previous
selling price. This card was Babe Ruth's rookie card released by the Baltimore
News and was in very good condition.
Another card
featuring the entire 1914 Baltimore Orioles team from the same collection sold
at the same auction for $52,875, though it's important to note that this card
had clipped corners due to being glued into a scrapbook for a number of years.
The card pictured the entire 1914 team, including Babe Ruth.
How Triple Diamond Rings Can Change Your Energy And Outlook On Life
- By Christine OKelly
- Published 07/17/2009
- Business
Every woman
deserves a beautiful ring, whether it's one that was purchased for her by a
spouse or one that she bought herself to celebrate her independence. A fabulous
triple diamond ring can do a lot to improve your energy and outlook on life and
remind you of specific events every time you look down at it. Here are three
good reasons to celebrate with one of these special rings.
Celebrate A Loved
One
A triple diamond
ring can do a lot to improve the energy of a romantic relationship. These rings
will help your wife or girlfriend know that you're thinking of them on a daily
basis and celebrate your relationship's past, present and future. These rings
are typically designed using three diamonds, either all one size or a large
stone flanked by two smaller stones.
Triple diamond
rings can be made out of yellow gold, white gold or platinum and the stones can
vary depending on your style and tastes. Popular styles are all round, all
princess cut or round or princess cut center stones flanked by triangle shaped
diamonds. These triple diamond rings are available in almost every price point
so there's no reason to drain your wallet to improve your relationship's energy.
Celebrate A Child
These diamond rings
have begun to replace traditional mother's rings, especially with families with
just one or two children. Families with one child can flank a diamond with the
child's birthstone - it doesn't matter what the birthstone is because
everything goes along with a diamond! A popular cut for the middle stone is a
heart because the ring represents your children surrounding your heart.
If you have two
children, you can celebrate each one by having a ring custom built using both
children's birthstones. Alternatively, you can buy a special stackable ring,
with one for each child. This is an ideal solution if you love the look and
energy of a triple diamond birthstone ring, but aren't sure how many children
you want.
Celebrate Yourself
Buying one of these
beautiful rings for yourself is a great way to celebrate a significant
accomplishment or milestone in your life. Most women choose to wear these rings
on their right hands, but if you prefer to wear it on your left, go ahead!
There aren't any rules concerning these rings.
These rings can be
in a traditional setting with three stones in a row or you can mix it up by
putting the stones in a design. Many women like to mix diamonds with their
birthstone or other favorite gemstone. If you hire a jewelry designer, the
possibilities for your ring are endless.

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