3rd January, 2010 - Posted by admin - Comments Off
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4th September, 2010 - Posted by admin - Comments Off
Following a series of tighter consumer protection laws, makers are emphasizing product safety while contending with the high cost of compliance.
Faced with stricter safety regulations in key export destinations, companies in China are allocating more resources to product testing and emphasizing high-quality materials despite the pressure these are putting on manufacturing outlay.
For most suppliers, adopting complicated and far-reaching directives is not the main challenge, but the high expense of compliance is.
Many of the new safety standards require makers to conduct more tests on a greater number of chemical substances. As a result, certification fees for some products have risen by as much as 50 percent, and even doubled in a few cases. CPSIA evaluation for toys, for example, can cost up to $1,000 per model depending on the complexity of the design.
The average toy company now spends $60,000 to $100,000 on examination fees every year. One of the biggest toy makers in China pays more than $2.9 million annually on testing, much higher than the yearly revenue of small suppliers.
Lamp specialist Heshan Mingkeda Industries Co. Ltd spends about $3,000 for SAA certification alone, which takes one or two months to acquire, according to the company’s sales manager Mini Yip.
In many instances, fulfilling safety requirements involves replacing infringing materials with compliant substitutes.
Suppliers of food-grade products, for instance, have already stopped using BPA, an organic compound found in many plastics. In a range of consumer goods, further modifications include the shift from PVC to POE, and from PC to phthalate-free PES, glass and nontoxic silicone.
Battery makers are striving to develop or source safer anode and cathode materials. Some have begun to replace conventional lithium cobalt oxide formulation with lithium iron phosphate, an alternative with lower environmental impact. Other efforts are aimed at improving protection against overcharging, discharging and heating.
But in most instances, “safe” alternatives are costlier than the originals. 3P PVC for instance, is 30 percent more expensive than regular PVC but is 30 percent cheaper than 6P.
Similarly, A5-grade melamine goes for $2,200 per ton, three times as much as the same volume of the A1-grade variant at about $735.
In some cases, imported materials, which invariably cost more, are favored over domestic equivalents. Imported PP, for instance, is 20 to 30 percent higher than domestic versions, at $1,800 to $2,100 per ton. Overseas-sourced organic fabrics, likewise, are 20 to 30 percent more expensive than local variants.
Despite the high outlay, some companies prefer to source abroad for consistent quality. Foshan Geuwa Electric Appliance Co. Ltd sources 80 percent of materials and components for its blenders and juicers overseas, while the rest are purchased locally.
Besides higher raw material expenses, makers have to contend with increases in indirect costs, particularly those related with monitoring the supply chain to ensure that all manufacturing inputs meet specifications.
According to Tim Corrigan, president and CEO of the Quality Assurance Institute, “The root cause of the problem (of product quality) is control of the raw material, application contaminations and subfactories. To fix this requires an overhaul at many factories. The solution calls for significant transparency, diligence and dedication.”
Generally, material vendors are able to offer third-party certification. But for those that cannot do so, companies need to send their own QC staff to supervise the production at the material suppliers’ factories.
More exporters are now limiting their sourcing to suppliers that can provide certified inputs. Still, collection and documentation of every component utilized requires time, effort and money.
In addition to testing and materials quality, manufacturers are also enhancing their in-house QC facilities.
Lai On Products (Industrial) Ltd, a Hong Kong-owned maker of crayons, modeling clay and paint has set up a microbiological laboratory at its factory in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Certified by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment, the lab is comparable to a chemical-testing facility. The supplier also sends its products to third-party agencies to ensure compliance with ASTM D-4236 and F963, Toxicological Risk Assessment, EN 71, CPSIA, California Proposition 65 and REACH requirements.
Some baby stroller factories are now equipped with wheel performance, dynamic durability and drop-testing facilities. At the same time, many stuffed toys and children’s garments makers are purchasing more needle detectors.
Any measure to comply with safety regulations undoubtedly adds to the cost of production. Suppliers estimate material and certification expenses have risen about 10 percent in recent months. Many companies try to absorb the additional expenditure, but this is not always feasible.
While investment in facilities can be recovered in the long term, the same cannot be said about testing fees. When order quantities are low, as in the current environment, makers are often unable to recover money spent on certification of specific models. Shorter product life cycles due to fast-changing customer preferences also give manufacturers a narrower time frame to recoup compliance outlay.
Some suppliers try to negotiate bigger orders or ask buyers to shoulder the cost for certification. But clients are averse to both options in view of the current economic conditions.
Typically, tier 1 manufacturers are able to comply with regulations more seamlessly due mainly to their stable financial resources.
“Enterprises that cater to major OEM customers likewise have the easiest time adjusting to the new rules as they have better access to information,” said Cody Wang, chemical testing deputy general manager at Intertek. “They are usually able to make the necessary changes months in advance of enforcement deadlines.”
But for small and midsize factories that have less capital to invest in equipment and prohibitive testing fees, conformance can be a daunting task.
Testers can also be partners
The professional testing industry is booming amid the rising safety trend. With the increased need for product evaluation, the past few years have seen an influx and expansion of third-party laboratories in China, including SGS, TÜV, BV, Morlab and Pony Test. These organizations also provide free training on the latest regulations, and inform companies on which merchandise needs testing and how.
Regulatory agencies in the US and the EU have likewise been active in helping suppliers get up to speed.
Workshops on the new EU Toy Safety Directive have been organized, with the support of the EU-China Trade Project and the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission.
In October 2009, the third CPSC-AQSIQ Summit was held in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. With a theme of “promoting best practices by Chinese manufacturers and US importers to maximize product safety”, the summit was attended by CPSC chair Inez Tenenbaum.
In her keynote address, Tenenbaum reported that in fiscal year 2009, toy recalls went down to 40 from more than 80 in the preceding period. The information exchange between the CPSC and AQSIC about recalls of China-made goods was emphasized, as well as the need for frequent training sessions.
The AQSIQ has been educating China toy makers about safety requirements in the US and on strengthening quality controls. The CPSC has arranged to set up an office at the US embassy in Beijing to help promote compliance with US standards among local suppliers.
Local governments and trade organizations are also vigorously pushing companies to bolster the image of “made in China” products.
At the Canton Fair last fall, the Ministry of Commerce distributed export quality and safety manual to exhibitors.
Organizations such as the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade have been sponsoring seminars for business owners and local government officials on product safety in Southern China.
Regulations getting tougher
The safety bar that China suppliers must hurdle is getting higher by the year as new international and domestic standards are put into place.
In December 2009, the European Chemicals Agency announced the addition of 15 chemicals to its candidate list of substances of very high concern (SVHC) under REACH. Among the inclusions were diisobutyl phthalate, a commonly used plasticizer, and lead chromate, a coloring agent.
REACH has wide-ranging impact in the EU as it requires disclosure of information on hazardous substances contained in every product. The directive is on top of specific regulations such as RoHS for electronic goods, EN 71 for toys, and Regulation 1905/2004/EC for materials that come in contact with food.
For toy makers, the CPSIA/HR4040 in the US and the EU’s New Toy Safety Directive or 2009/48/EC amend existing rules substantially and impose greater restrictions on suspicious chemicals. The latter regulation limits 19 metallic elements. It also bans 55 fragrant substances and warns against a further 11 types.
Other baby and children’s products and toys must pass the standards for EN 71, CE, WEEE and EMC in the EU, ASTM-F963, CPSIA, FDA and UL in the US, AS/NZS/ISO 8124 in Australia and New Zealand, and ST2002 in Japan.
Following the US and EU’s lead, Japan, Australia and even Malaysia are modifying their existing toy safety regulations, particularly on flammability and the use of phthalates and lead.
Lithium battery exporters have to comply with UL1642 for cells and UL2054 or FCC for battery packs in addition to EMC and RoHS. Designs shipped by air are also obligated to undergo UN38.3 testing. In markets where FCC, UL and RoHS approval are not necessary, passing the UN38.3 is sufficient.
For products that come in contact with food, companies have to comply with assorted standards such as UL, CB, CE, GS, ETL, CCC, FDA and LFGB. Most EU countries recognize Germany’s LFGB because of its stricter requirements.
Aside from international regulations, suppliers have to follow domestic guidelines for a number of goods.
Garment trimming makers, for example, need to comply with three sets of requirements for cords and drawstrings to be used in children’s clothing. Issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and Standardization Administration, the GB/T 22702-2008, 22704-2008 and 22705-2008 are based on US’ ASTM F 1816-97(2004), the UK’s BS 7907:1997 and EN 14682:2007, respectively.
In addition, some existing national standards for trimmings have been revised and now have provisions that monitor and prescribe allowable levels for harmful substances that are even lower than European regulations. The GB/T 17592, for example, keeps azo content at 20mg/kg whereas it is 30mg/kg in the EU’s EN 14362.
Likewise, the China government issued a new standard for melamine-formaldehyde products used as food containers and packaging materials. This comes after several foreign markets banned low-end models due to potential chemical leaching.
The regulation seeks to ensure safety by prohibiting the use of urea formaldehyde resin as the main material. A1 and A3-grade melamine dinnerware pieces, which contain 70 to 90 percent of this substance, tend to melt at high temperatures and may cause a health hazard.
To ensure compliance with the safety code, the government has required suppliers to obtain a production license from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection & Quarantine.
This article was originally published by Global Sources, a leading business-to-business media company and a primary facilitator of trade with China manufacturers and India suppliers, providing essential sourcing information to volume buyers through our e-magazines, trade shows and industry research.
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3rd September, 2010 - Posted by admin - Comments Off
Austin Energy has been running an extensive rebate campaign for quite some time to help Austin residents save money on their utility bills. The rebates are designed to make it more affordable for people in Austin to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. It seems odd for a power company to be encouraging and even paying people to reduce the amount of energy they use. After all, how much the power company gets paid is dependent on how much power is used, so why would they pay people to reduce their monthly bills, thereby decreasing Austin Energy’s revenue?
There are several answers that explain this seemingly odd behavior on the part of Austin Energy. First off is that they want Austin to be considered a green city and they feel good giving rebates to Austin residents to make our city greener. This explanation would be all that is needed if Austin Energy was simply encouraging people to be more energy efficient, but sense they are laying money on the line, there has to be another explanation. Assuming that the people who run Austin Energy are smart business people they would not pay company money for energy efficiency improvements unless there was some real or expected economic gain they could recognize. So we have to look at these Austin Energy rebates as an investment that the Austin Energy execs hope will pay off.
Why then does Austin Energy think that helping Austin residents reduce their energy usage will result in them making more money? First off their motivation could be a desire to control the high peak power demand we have here in Austin and the costs associated with meeting that demand. Currently high peak demand in the US and in Austin is met by what are known as “peaker” plants. These plants only fire up to meet peak demand and sit idle for much of the year. Reducing our energy usage through better efficiency could potentially get rid of the need for these plants. This would help Austin Energy make money because “peaker” plants are costly to maintain and don’t do anything for much of the year. Also these plants are always the least efficient plants available to the utility, meaning their operating margins are smaller than those of other plants. Austin Energy currently can’t charge more for the energy created during peak demand by these less efficient plants, and therefore not having to run them during peak time could help them increase their bottom line.
Another reason Austin Energy is offering to pay for energy efficiency improvement for Austin residents has to do with cost comparisons. If Austin Energy can offset enough demand through energy efficiency that they don’t have to build a new power plant they could potentially save money. Austin Energy has compared the costs of building a new power plant verses the costs associated with offsetting demand through increasing energy efficiency and decided that it is cheaper to pay for energy efficiency improvements. Austin Energy officials estimate that energy efficiency improvements will save the same amount of energy as a 700 megawatt power plant would create annually. The costs associated with building a large power plant like this are huge and far exceed the money they are spending through the rebate programs here in Austin.
The final reason Austin Energy is paying for Austin residents to improve their homes has a more long term and speculative thought process behind it. For a while now energy and environmental experts have been pushing for a carbon cap and trade program. The basic principle behind this program is that each power utility is issued a set amount of pollution credits. These credits are used up when pollutants are emitted. However, assuming you are a low polluting utility that doesn’t use all its credits, you could sell your excess credits to other utilities that need extra credits to continue operating. Part of Austin Energies motivation in offering these rebates then could be in preparation for this proposed system; hoping that enough people in Austin will increase their energy efficiency allowing Austin Energy to have extra carbon credits to sell in the market created by the cap and trade system. In light of the climate bill passed by the House of Representatives on June 26th the cap and trade system may not be far off and no doubt Austin Energy officials are hoping their rebate program will pay off when it is put in place.
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30th August, 2010 - Posted by admin - Comments Off
So you want to cut your ties to the energy grid? Being free of the power grid with freedom from utility bills, and the self-sufficient satisfaction that comes from generating all you need sounds great, but in reality may be an impossible dream for most. The setup of most typical older homes require tens of thousands of dollars of investment to make a complete “Green Change”. Solar panels, solar hot water equipment, geothermal or ground-source heating and cooling, wind turbines and so on are solutions but may be expensive to implement as a whole solution. In the case homes in remote areas, it can be a major undertaking or something you accept as your chosen lifestyle. Remote properties do have solutions but generally require good planning. Usually, options of choice in suburbia is to “dip the toe” so that you can still reduce your environmental impact and make saving on your power bill and eco-impact. So, here are a few ways you can make a difference at home.
Get Efficient
Start by figuring out where all your energy use goes, do a house energy audit. Use a gizmo that can measure the power used by each appliance. There’s a gadget called Kill-A-Watt for about $20 that will read out the power use of the appliance you plug into it. You may be shocked at some of your usage and seriously think about what needs upgrading, or simply ditching.
Cut back on fossil fuel usage
In many places, fossil free options are not easy to access yet. When you use, grid electricity, grid or bottled gas, wood and other energy sources like heating oil or propane all can have a “fossil fuel” footprint. Electricity is probably the easiest of the bunch to make an impact on as is your heating use. There are commercial “off the shelf” and DIY options for power and or heating. Build a passive solar water heater or heat your home with passive solar heat, and you’re well on your way to cutting back on the fossil fuels you need to use in your home. Passive solar can be a simple and cost effective solution.
Get into Alternative Energy
If you can’t go off the grid, check out your local power utility, many utilities now offer green energy programs. Getting green power may be as easy as checking a box on your energy bill. About 600 of the US’s 6,000 power utilities offer a green power option of one kind or another. Sure, this may actually cost you a little more, usually around 10% extra. This cost goes towards the utility investing in solar, wind, and other alternatives to coal, and they send you some of that green energy back. But – surprisingly, this is often a cheaper longterm solution to going off-grid, and has a huge green impact – the impact of a utility cutting back its footprint make a HUGE difference.
Baby steps to Self Generated Power
Going off-grid in most normal home is as we can see probably not the best solution.
But that doesnt mean that you cannot make a difference with small scale projects for home produced electricity. With an investment of under $200 you can get started with solar power, for a little more, you can take the equivelant of one room in your house off-grid, and for maybe $5-600, you can look at running a number of appliances around the house that once used to just add to your bill. That one-off cost is good for about 20 odd years of free electricity, all the time reducing your power costs and eco-impact.
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29th August, 2010 - Posted by admin - Comments Off
Datacraft Solutions, the world leader in lean manufacturing software, noted that its flagship product, Signum Digital Kanban, is designed to help manufacturers reduce inventory by up to 75% while eliminating stock-outs. Only true digital kanban solution allows shop floor operators to manage and track all material as well as components that are sent to outside processors. This critical product feature allows manufacturers to achieve additional inventory reduction and fewer stock-outs, using a single integrated set of material replenishment processes for all products.
Almost every Datacraft Solutions’ customer has some portion of their materials that has volatile or infrequent demand where they prefer to drive replenishment off of production forecasts or schedules rather than current consumption.
Datacraft Solutions’ Supplier Replenishment is designed to help manufacturers digitally manage all forms of material replenishment with suppliers. This product combines Datacraft Solutions’ leading Digital Kanban capabilities with features that allow manufacturers to replenish material with purchase orders based on forecasts or production schedules. Datacraft Solutions’ Supplier Replenishment provides both manufacturers and suppliers a single internet portal where they can view forecasts and kanban signals, release purchase orders, track orders and manage receipts. Datacraft Solutions’ Supplier Replenishment is designed to eliminate stock-outs and the resulting expedited deliveries to reduce inventory levels by up to 75 percent – while streamlining processes and dramatically increasing buyer and planner productivity.
Datacraft Solutions’ Supplier Replenishment extends Datacraft Solutions’ Digital Kanban by allowing customers to have one replenishment interface with their suppliers, regardless of the material type. Datacraft Solutions’ Supplier Replenishment provides buyers and suppliers with a single, integrated replenishment interface that shows the status for every order in the system — both kanban and non-kanban. Highlights of the system include:
• Systematically publishes forecast, planned orders and change orders based on demand changes.
• Automates and streamlines ordering processes.
• Provides suppliers an environment to accept, make changes and collaborate in the purchase order execution.
• Tracks orders with suppliers while they are in process and in transit.
• Provides suppliers with standardized shipping labels with barcodes, eliminating data entry during receiving.
• Consistently monitors supplier performance.
Datacraft Solutions’ Supplier Replenishment improves collaboration with suppliers and eliminates confusion, double orders and missed orders by providing buyers and suppliers with clear and visible replenishment status for every order in the system.
Datacraft Solutions (www.datacraftsolutions.com) delivers a revolutionary digital kanban process of automation solutions to lean manufacturers through a secure Internet gateway, eliminating the need to install and maintain a complex IT infrastructure. The company has experienced significant growth in the past twelve months by eliminating complicated, expensive, time-intensive software implementations as well as extensive training regiments and the need for internal support. The Datacraft Solutions’ replenishment supply chain digital kanban lean system allows customers access and fully utilize powerful lean benefits immediately for a low, predictable monthly fee. Services are scalable so manufacturers can design an appropriate digital kanban solution.
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26th August, 2010 - Posted by admin - Comments Off
Take Control Of Your Finances
1) Calculate, Calculate, Calculate!
The first step is to know exactly what its you owe and who you owe the money to. Be as open about it as you can otherwise there will be even more pain later. Your debt should not account for more than 20% of you monthly income. If it is, you are entering the danger zone and MUST take immediate steps to cut back.
2) Budget
Once you calculate exactly how much you owe you can devise a budget, including a schedule for repaying your debts. Be realistic and calculate what you can afford to repay and still stay within your budget.
3) Discipline
Don’t borrow any more money or take on any more debts until you have repaid what you already owe.
4) Daily Spending Control
Give your card to a trusted friend of family member (don’t include the PIN…!) for safe-keeping. That will reduce any spontaneous spending splurges. Take a fixed amount of money out of the bank at the beginning of the week so you can only spend what you have.
5) Organize Bills
If you haven’t done so already, make sure you are paying all your utility bills by direct debit. It’s much easier to manage as you won’t have to worry about sending cheques on time and it is also cheaper as most providers offer discounts for direct debit payments.
This is probably the easiest way to cut your bills. You can do it today simply by calling your bank with the details of your energy suppliers. Or, alternatively, most energy bills enclose a form to fill in to set up a direct debit.
6) Switch Utility Suppliers
You can save hundreds of pounds each year on your gas, electricity, water and phone bills by switching. It is advisable to switch your energy and phone suppliers before you set up direct debits or you will end up having to change them again. Ask your neighbours who their supplier is and how much they are paying to compare.
7) Switch to a Cheaper Credit Card/Loan
Find a better rate by trying out different providers. You’ll most likely find a credit card or loan with a better interest rate than what you’re paying now. Be careful of special-offer rates as this will usually mean that the 0% interest advertised changes after a few months which will mean moving companies again. It might better to stick to a low-rate that looks stable than one at 0% for a limited period. If you decide to go for a 0% rate, make a note of the date in your diary of when you need to change deals again.
8 ) Cut Up Store Cards
Store cards charge by far the highest rates for credit, so if you’re finding it hard to manage these debts throw away your cards now to avoid temptation.
You’ll pay well over the odds for most store cards – it’s better to pay cash if you can. For those items you can’t pay cash for, shop around for the best deals – the market is competitive, so there are some excellent interest free credit offers around. It is also worth taking a look on the internet as many products are offered there more cheaply.
9) Switch Your Mortgage
Mortgages are most peoples’ biggest expense each month. It’s imperative you have the best possible deal. Speak to an independent financial adviser or a broker about your options and if its possible to save money by switching.
Some mortgage providers have transfer charges so make sure you take these into account. Calculate the full cost of remortgaging before you decide its worthwhile. You may find the savings you’ll make with a new mortgage will more than cover any transfer expenses.
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23rd August, 2010 - Posted by admin - Comments Off
Never before has the print industry been under such pressure to change. The age of electronic communications is reshaping the print industry, and, with that, print experts – highly skilled, savvy, and print qualified professionals – are experiencing fewer opportunities and increasing threats to their very livelihoods.
Print businesses are facing challenges – like how to stay in business while direct mail customers are cutting back in favor of the Internet and a host of new and less costly electronic marketing tools. Production downtime and equipment under-utilization is rampant. Accounts payable are piling up, while customer payments are slowing. A huge paradigm shift is occurring, like it or not.
Yet, there are still some career opportunities, especially for those print specialists who are versatile enough to apply their skills in innovative ways. Print professionals best equipped to adapt to changing times know the ins and outs of developing project specifications, estimating project costs, buying paper and ink, packaging alternatives, shipping and logistics, and – of course – efficiencies in production. These people are well-rounded and have taken the time over their careers to dig deep into the hows and whys of the business of printing.
One new business has actually embraced the age of electronic communications and is thriving as a result of new ideas facilitated in traditional markets. e-LYNXX Corporation has built business success around a patented competitive procurement method; a list of top 10 best business practices; a web-based workflow and communication system; and experts in print.
In fact while other print businesses are laying off, e-LYNXX is hiring. The e-LYNXX need for print experts is greater today than ever. Those with deep seated print expertise can perform a critical role, because we provide specialized print-related assistance to our clients. Print specialists support our Government Print Management division clients by enhancing their ability to interpret specifications, establish target pricing and win government bid opportunities. Our American Print Management division clients rely on print specialists to develop budgetary pricing for projects and source to a robust, objectively qualified pool of their own suppliers.
When you look at the responsibilities of print professionals at e-LYNXX, they perform for numerous e-LYNXX clients both invaluable and profit-building responsibilities. They perform supplier identification, qualification and sourcing management; prepare accurate project specifications; manage and evolve pricing and analysis tools; analyze and report latest market trends and their associated impact on pricing, and much more.
A newly found drive for wringing out profitability from every penny of cost is moving large volume print buyers away from relationship buying and rate carding that restricts procurement to a handful of print suppliers. Large volume buyers are looking beyond technology and razzle-dazzle to obtain cost-reducing management of a solid core of qualified and competitive print suppliers.
Professionals looking to stay in the print industry need to become familiar with new print procurement methods and understand how they fit into the future of print. They need to reexamine their roles, think out-of-the-box and discover how to better utilize their expertise. Otherwise, opportunities will continue to diminish, just as they are for those print suppliers and print buyers who are reluctant to change.
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22nd August, 2010 - Posted by admin - Comments Off
In an age of rising costs, like food, fuel and living expenses, it’s crucial to ensure you’re as efficient as possible with your hard earned cash. In fact, with many people struggling to meet the costs of their mortgage repayments and monthly bills, it makes sense to see what you can do to reduce your outgoings. In doing so, you could save yourself hundreds of pounds a year.
One of the best ways to curb your spending, according to the experts, is to start at home. Indeed, making a few small changes around the house can have a huge impact on your wallet, meaning the cash you save can go towards the more fun things in life, like holidays!
The first issue to tackle then is your energy efficiency. It is a fact that many households waste unnecessary sums of money every month because they don’t use their electricity and gas economically. However, by doing simple things, like turning off any lights and electrical sockets not in use, can see pounds drop off your utility bills.
Replacing old appliances – the experts recommend ones over 15 years of age – such as fridges, washing machines or cookers can also reduce your outgoings. And, although you may think shelling out for new items is expensive, in reality replacing them with energy efficient alternatives will be more cost-effective in the long run.
Properly sealing all windows and doors is another great tip to reduce wasted energy. This can be done in a cost-effective manner – hanging heavy curtains, or putting plastic sheeting over windows, for example – and can reduce heating costs by almost half. Equally, by ensuring all light bulbs are of the low energy variety, you can save up to £10 on each one.
Reviewing your television, phone and/or internet package is another way you can save cash. There are hundreds of different offers available, and often by shopping around, it’s possible to find cheaper alternatives to your current deal. And, you should ask yourself if you really, really need the most expensive entertainment package out there, or if you can live with a compromise!
One of the best ways to reduce your home expenditure, however, is to look at your home insurance. People often find that, after research, they’re paying far too much for their coverage. Not only that, but they’re also paying for protection they don’t need. As a result, it can pay to think about the cover you do require and then look for a specifically tailored package.
The internet is a great tool for researching the home insurance market. In addition to presenting you with the widest selection of insurance deals, it’s a quick and easy way to compare the different products. And, often by applying online, you can receive discounts and deals not available on the high street!
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18th August, 2010 - Posted by admin - Comments Off
Window tinting in the home and the office offers not only aesthetics but actually can deliver a significant return on investment. With improved energy savings year round, many businesses may even get a tax break by installing energy efficient window films. The benefits of window films include reduced floor and carpet fading, reduced furniture fading, low glare, improved privacy and with the correct application of window fims, significantly improved building security.
For commercial users, tinted windows save the owner money because they eliminate the need for blinds. While the cost of several strings of blinds may not initially result in a large sum, the cost of constantly replacing those blinds due to broken or bent pieces can amount to an astronomical number over time. Given that window tinting is a one-time expense, business owners actually save money with the practical application of window films. Likewise, tinted windows reduce glare so that employees will be able to work more efficiently and without distraction. Guests and customers will also enjoy their stay at the establishment better without having to contend with glare while they visit, eat, sign papers, or attend to any other commercial needs.
For residential users, tinted windows are a wonderful option because they prolong furniture and household objects. Tinted windows reduce fading, so carpet, rugs, wall-hangings, photos, and furniture apolstry, which is typically damaged if left in the sun, remain in excellent condition because tinting filters damaging UV rays.
Residents will not only enjoy having long-lasting furniture and decor, they will also revel in the fact that they save money by not having to frequently replace any of it. Indeed, window tinting is a money saver in more ways than one. Window films for tinting tend to reflect sunlight which helps maintain a more uniform temperature inside. Because of the lower amount of sunlight in the room, the room’s temperature does not increase, resulting in cheaper utility bills during the warmer months and quite possibly extending the life of your air conditioner.
Adding to the practical reasons for tinting, tinted windows can also darken the glass, thereby increasing privacy. This can discourage any would-be thieves and at the same time enhances the beauty of commercial businesses. A close relative of tinting are window security films. These are specific window films designed to prevent breakin, significantly improving the security of any residential or commercial building. Security films offer enough reinforcement to stop a brick from coming through and can actually withstand significant force. In less than secure neighborhoods, security film can mean the difference between a break-in or the perpetrator moving on.
Thus, whether commercial or residential, window tinting is a fantastic way to save money, reduce glare, reduce fading, conserve energy, and increase privacy and security.
R.J. Pro Tint delivers residential home and office window tinting in Dayton Ohio. Installing 3M window fims has saved their customers millions of dollars. For more information see the demos for both residential and commercial window tinting Dayton Ohio . (click the link to our website).
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17th August, 2010 - Posted by admin - Comments Off
One of the toughest challenges confronting any business is accepting change, and then implementing it. We all get set in our ways and feel that if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. The problem with that false sense of security is while it may not appear to be broken, the foundation may be decaying while what is on the surface appears to be okay.
Many are finding cracks in their business foundations during this recession. Once solid print suppliers are scrambling to find work. Scrambling alone, however, won’t produce profitable results. Scrambling to find work in traditional markets is often wasted energy because the work just isn’t there. Once dependable clients and promising prospects are cutting back on their print needs.
Enlightened printers are assessing how they do business and with whom. They are looking at markets that supplement the commercial work that they have traditionally depended on for steady income. These new markets are markets where they can fill gaps in print production schedules without interrupting workflow for major commercial clients. One such secondary market is the government sector, and within that sector is the U. S. Government Printing Office (GPO).
The GPO is huge, awarding more than $400 million in large contracts and small jobs each year to printers nationwide of all sizes and capabilities. It is a wide-open opportunity and found income if you understand the GPO system and know how to price bids to win.
Because more times than not the GPO takes the lowest bid on a project, printers have to know how to develop a winning strategy that allows them to bid low, win GPO work and make a profit. You have to look at GPO work as an added value rather than your primary revenue stream. It is like your primary commercial accounts are the basic sustenance that keeps you going and GPO work is the multi-vitamin that makes you healthier and stronger.
To develop a winning strategy, the printer competing for GPO work must understand when and how to compete. A key concept that must be applied is contribution pricing. That is when the printer bids low to win work that will be completed during what would otherwise be downtime — those schedule gaps when there is no work, no income and idle time for equipment and the staff. Filling these gaps, even with low priced work, generates income to cover such overhead costs as salaries, utilities, maintenance and out-of-pocket expenses. That income contributes 100% to the bottom line, hence the name contribution pricing.
Determining what the low, winning bid to the GPO should be, complying with government regulations and overcoming red tape require experience, patience and persistence. The most active and successful GPO print suppliers partner with a government print management firm to receive all available GPO and other government solicitations, interpret job specifications, prepare proposals, manage the bidding process, negotiate change orders and provide assistance through production, delivery and invoicing. The government print management firm should have a robust database of historical data on past government jobs and a team of specialists who know how to work with the GPO and how to provide guidance for you to win GPO bids.
Changing your strategy or business model to serve secondary markets is an opportunity to be seized. Filling downtime maximizes production utilization, increasing it from a print industry average of 70% to full utilization of 90% to 95%.
While I have stressed low pricing to win GPO work, many GPO job opportunities – when managed by the print management firm in partnership with the supplier — command higher than commercial prices because of the job’s uniqueness, quick timing requirements or limited availability.
With a steady flow of government work, suppliers improve profits. Before GPO work, a print supplier can average 2.5% profitability on 70% production utilization. Add GPO work through services of an expert government print management firm to manage the relationship and the bottom line grows to about 14%. Not serving secondary markets is riskier than staying the course and searching for work that isn’t there in your primary commercial markets.
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