Best of the Janes: Getting Back on Track

While any female entrepreneur who has experienced a setback in her business will ultimately take a multi-pronged approach to getting back on track, certain specific elements of the rise to ideal apply differently to each entrepreneurial type.

A recent study from Jane Out of the Box, an authority on female entrepreneurs, reveals there are five distinct types of women in business. Based on professional market research of more than 3,500 women in business, this study shows that each type of business owner has a unique approach to running a business and therefore each one has a unique combination of needs. When a woman is living as her ideal entrepreneurial type, she feels satisfied, personally and professionally. This article outlines six ideas for jumpstarting cash flow following a business setback.

Most women business owners who have experienced a setback are living a Tenacity Jane phase. Tenacity Jane is an entrepreneur with an undeniable passion for her business, and one who tends to be struggling with cash flow. As a result, she's working longer hours, and making less money than she'd like. Nevertheless, Tenacity Jane is bound and determined to make her business a success. At 31% of women in business, Tenacity Janes make up the largest group of female entrepreneurs. Typically, a woman business owner becomes a Tenacity Jane for one of five reasons: she has a craft or skill, but lacks business knowledge, the business started undercapitalized or acquired more debt than can be comfortably carried at current revenue levels, she doesn’t charge enough for her services, she lacks focus and is trying to accomplish too much all at once, or something has changed in the industry or cost structure that has caused a once-prosperous business to falter financially.

To move forward from a Tenacity Jane phase, a woman business owner must:

1. Invest in her own knowledge. New knowledge can be the key to jumpstarting profitability. Even if she is an expert in her craft, she may not have the knowledge she needs to run a successful business. Odds are, she recognizes where she can improve her knowledge for the betterment of her business. An entrepreneur can create her own training plan or she can hire someone with expertise to fill in the gaps. Whether she reads books, buys home study courses or attends live classes, an entrepreneur who builds her knowledge base dramatically increases her chances of boosting her profit. Some areas where she may need new knowledge: marketing (specifically, email marketing, social networking as a marketing tool, etc.), financial management, team building and delegation, and project and time management.


2. Identify her target market and its needs, and then market accordingly. By surveying her existing customers, a female entrepreneur can get an inexpensive and very accurate picture of which of her products and services are most in-demand, and of the profiles of the people who are using them the most. Then, she can market to similar people, thus increasing her chances of attracting ideal clients who need (and will pay for) her services.


3. Evaluate her pricing and raise it, if possible. Whether she “started low” to win business and never raised her rates, or she over-estimated her profit margin, it never hurts for an entrepreneur to evaluate how her pricing compares with that of other similar professionals in her area. She can send surveys to existing customers, asking them about industry pricing, and call competitors and ask for a price sheet. Also, by evaluating her costs and margin, she can determine whether she could increase her margin slightly and therefore increase her profits. When considering hourly rates, a female business owner should remember to include the cost of taking time off for vacation, and the time she spends working non-billable hours marketing, paying bills, etc. She should consider what each project or unit is worth to her – and create a guideline for herself about how much she has to charge to feel properly compensated.


4. Network. By networking with other like-minded professionals, a woman business owner creates opportunities for a support system in which she can share ideas and information, and for getting word of mouth referrals. Also, networking provides chances for affiliate relationships, in which two professionals who offer related services market their products together.


5. Upsell. Business owners can drive profit fairly easily with a little extra work through consistent upselling. In this sales approach, every time someone buys from the entrepreneur, she offers them a chance to pay just a little bit more for an expanded service or an augmented product. For example, if she sells a necklace, she upsells to include a fancy jewelry box. If she sells an information product, she upsells to a continuity product such as a newsletter.


6. Communicate regularly with information and offers. Every business owner probably has a list of prospects and current customers. A female entrepreneur must recognize that the more frequently she communicates with her prospects and customers, the more frequently she’ll be on their minds – increasing the likelihood that they’ll buy from her! Business owners can employ (almost) effortless marketing methods for communicating regularly, such as social networking, blogging and newsletters.

   

It is common for a business owner to experience a setback within her company. Fortunately, by following specific steps and guidelines, and by using the six cash flow jumpstart strategies listed above, a female entrepreneur can overcome her setbacks and be on her way to living her ideal entrepreneurial type and enjoying her successes.

Interested in learning more about the five Jane types and which Jane you are? Check out www.janeoutofthebox.com.

How to Properly Staff An Answering Service

Companies of all shapes, sizes and industries are only as good as the people they are staffed by. The company could be an ice cream stand, if the employee isn't good working with people and making sundaes, they aren't going to help the company succeed. A life guard stand isn't helping anyone if the lifeguards staffing it aren't able to swim. Construction sites will become dangerous and fail if the people building there are unfamiliar with the tools they use. Likewise, an answering service will be unable to provide professional and effective service if not staffed by willing, able, and well trained call center operators. For this reason, properly staffing an answering service is one of the biggest considerations for any manager.

The entire process of staffing an answering service starts with the hiring process. When interviewing applicants, you need to pay special attention to their verbal communication skill as well as how friendly they are. Everyone has different skills and abilities and some people just aren't very adept at talking to other people, especially over the phone. For this reason, I sometimes suggest that call center managers first interview their prospective operators over the phone first. After all, what better way to conduct a job interview than via the medium the applicants would be using to do their job. I don't suggest making every hiring decision based on this first test, but you gain a humongous amount of insight in future job performance by this first call. If the answering service job applicant does well in this situation, I schedule a meeting in our office soon thereafter.

For many people, the job of answering service operator might seem like a very individualistic position. Indeed staff members spend a great deal communicating with people one-on-one over the phone, but it remains of the utmost importance that employees are team players and work well with others. Even though the center may answer for hundreds of clients over dozens of industries, the entire center must work as a whole. I sometimes compare the staff of an answering service to a television. Although there are many different parts each doing a specific task at any one time, the entire system has to perform in harmony if the entire operation is to work correctly. If there are a few points in the system that underperform or cause issues, it holds back the rest.

A very important thing to consider when properly staffing an answering service is how much prior experience the applicant has. Many people in this business have been answering calls for decades and really do have much to offer you and your center. These are the sorts of people who love what they do and are great sources of motivation for the newer operators. Training is always paramount but much is learned on the job over the course of working day to day answering calls. Experienced operators are frequently some of the biggest teachers in the business, passing on tips and knowledge to the rookies.

After a number of years, I've actually had these experts run the training sessions and I've been very fortunate to have them on staff. They have been invaluable in helping me to decide which applicants will work well together in our operation long term. When hiring for an answering service call center, you ought to seek people you can visualize being a part of your center for years to come. Answering services come and go but the ones who stick around for years after years are those who take each and every call seriously and help and encourage their operators to strive for excellence.

Article Tags:
Answering Service, Call Center

MBM Destroyit 2503 Strip Cut Paper Shredder - DSH0300 Review

For a simple, heavy duty centralized office
shredder, the MBM Destroyit 2503 Strip Cut is a great choice. This
device is easy to use and will quickly dispose of your documents with
its lifetime guaranteed steel blades. Built for high volume use in a
medium office, the 2503 will reliably work all day. Here is a closer
look.

Strengths:

• For starters, the 2503 has a Safety Protection
  System installed. A clear safety shield allows for the safe
  disposal of CDs and prevents fingers from entering the blades. The
  "Easy Switch" controls use of three modes- stand-by, stop,
  reverse- in a simple single button. Illuminated symbols show the
  machine's status. An automatic stop function is activated
  by an open cabinet door, a full shred bag, or a paper jam. If a
  jam occurs, auto reverse feeds the paper back out to unclog the
  blades for you. Finally, an Energy Save Mode kicks in after one
  hour of no use and powers down to a sleep mode to conserve electricity.
• Hardened steel blades are driven by a powerful single phase
  motor. The motor is double protected from overheating, meaning
  that it prevents itself from being fried and saves you from
  potential costly repairs. The durable gears are contained in a
  fully enclosed dustproof casing to avoid corrosion. Both are
  designed to keep your shredder in top running condition.
• An
  automated photo cell senses paper in the 10¼ inch feed opening
  and begins shredding on cue. The high quality blades take
  up to 21 sheets at once and also eat staples, paperclips, credit
  cards and even CDs. Items are shredded as fast as 24 feet per
  minute, so you can shred your stack and quickly be on your way.
• Sliced strips are collected in a 26 gallon shred bag that
  nestles in a pull-out bag frame mounted on rollers for simple
  removal and replacement. The whole unit is housed in a high
  quality wooden cabinet situated on casters for easy mobility. The wood
  acts as a noise reducer by absorbing some of the sound waves
  produced by the motor, giving you a quieter office.

Weaknesses

• The 3/16 inch strips produced offer a level 2
  security. For general internal documents, memos, and other low
  risk items, level two keeps things safe. However, if you have a
  plethora of sensitive material to dispose of, you may consider
  this model in a higher security version.
• The
  10.25 inch opening limits what can easily slide into the blades. Again,
  for generic office shredding, this isn't a problem. Offices
  needing to dispose of many wider or odd shaped documents might
  prefer a machine with a larger opening.
• Taking up to 21
  sheets at once as fast as 24 feet per minute, this machine is
  designed more for continuous use than high capacity. These sizes are
  appropriate for a medium size office with about 6-10 people and
  will be an ideal fit for that amount. Larger businesses with
  higher shredding needs will want to check out MBM's larger models.

MBM Destroyit's 2503 is well-suited to the needs for a low
security, medium office shredder. Safety and automatic features make
use simple and uncomplicated. A one year warranty offers peace of mind
and guarantees reliability. We think the 2503 is an excellent choice
for your next office shredder.

Create an Image with Stylish Business Card Holders

A card holder is a case inside which one can store visiting cards. Business executives who visit different offices for professional reasons exchange lots of visiting cards with people they meet and interact with. Exchanging visiting card with a person is corporate courtesy and that’s why business professionals always carry their visiting cards in their card holders.

A Visiting card contains vital information regarding an individual such as name, address, contact number, professional designation and name of company he/she works which help other to communicate in times of need. Corporate people meet hundreds of individual’s everyday and get their cards but to store so many cards along with the cards of their own, they need spacious holders to hold their cards in. As a card holder is carried either inside the wallet or inside a pocket in the suit it doesn’t need to be very good looking but as one needs to pull it out in public at frequent intervals, therefore the  holder must bear some element making  an impression in the receiver’s mind.

Hence in order to have the first impression fair, one must always look for appealing card holders. There is no need to worry, as they are available in endless varieties. You can opt for a simple but colorful fiber holder or may carry an elegant looking metal holder. Metal holders are the most glamorous of all. They are available in different shapes and sizes. One can have a flat card holder that looks similar to a cigarette case or may opt for a holder with more depth. Flat metal ones are more popular as they are easy to carry. They fit in very easily inside the pocket of your business suit or in your wallet.

If you are fond of leathery shine, you can opt for a leather holder for your business card. With a look similar to leather wallet, leather business card holders certainly make a style statement for one. A holder in shiny black leather can add to your glamour when you bring it out of your pocket, take out your card, and give it to somebody. And if you are giving it to a lady, you can be rest assured of leaving an impression on her mind. Leather holders are more useful than metal holders as they serve two purposes. Apart from storing visiting cards, you can use it as your money bag.

Card holder is now a hot choice among various corporate gift items. Glamorous holders made of leather and metal sell like hot cakes from gift shops. Apart from holders that are carried in pockets, you can gift an item that can be kept on desktop. Fiber-made transparent cardholders look gorgeous on desktops. Business professionals of higher ranks, who do not travel frequently, use such holders to store visiting cards who come to meet them. If you are planning to impress your boss, present him/her with a glamorous glass or fiber-made card holder as a birthday gift. It will surely carve a mark in his heart. If your boss is fond of arts and handicraft, make him/happier with a nicely carved wooden one. You will find them in different designs. The best would be one that looks like a box and contains a separate space for keeping a pen. Some holders include a matching pen, and if your item doesn’t have one, buy a pen and make the ‘gift’ more attractive.

The Secret to Wealth Creation –Time Control!

How do we tune in to the rhythms around us? How do we synchronize our frequency with the changing frequencies in time?

It has only been in the last twenty years that modern scanners and experimentation have taken neuroscience to a level where we can now know with more certainty what cognitive functions are taking place in which parts of the brain.

The four sides of the Wealth Dynamics Square, a profiling system used by over 30,000 entrepreneurs to find their flow, match the ‘four sides’ of the brain: our frontal lobes (located on the front and top of the brain) are the centre of our creative thinking and intuition; our parietal and occipital lobes (located at the centre and back) are the centre of our sensory function; our left hemisphere is responsible for analysis, with one input at a time; and our right hemisphere is responsible for our relationships, with multiple inputs at a time.

“The brain is simply a collection of neurons and other cells, Gathered together in one place to simplify the wiring.” -    Helen Phillips, New Scientist

If our brains are all so similar in size, and if wealth appears to have little to do with intelligence or talent (with fortune eluding many of the most intelligent and talented amongst us), what is the process by which our brain turns success into a habit?

All of our actions are based on either a conscious action, based on mental calculation, or unconscious action, based on reflex. Breathing is a reflex action, whereas intellectual argument is a calculated action. Yet when we see a great athlete in action, it is often a reflex action at a critical moment that wins the game.

“In the same way that I tend to make up my mind About people within thirty seconds of meeting them, I also make up my mind about a business proposal Within thirty seconds and whether it excites me.” - Richard Branson

In 1997, researchers at John Hopkins and the University of Maryland using a PET scanner found that we all learn new skills through our outer cortex, but then in repetition these physical skills are stored and accessed through the inner brain, within the cerebellum.

Conscious thought operates on the outer layer of the brain. We are masters of pattern recognition and we experience the world by comparing our experiences to the patterns formed by our past history. This is where we conduct our conscious thought. Yet within the centre of our brains, we conduct our unconscious thought.

It was only in October 2005 that a study at MIT found the location where our habits are stored: the basal ganglia, located next to the cerebellum in the inner brain. They found through a series of experiments that at critical moments when a familiar situation was encountered, a lost habit could be automatically re-activated from within our unconscious.

Dr Ann Graybiel, Professor of Neuroscience at MIT’s Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, said: "It is as though somehow, the brain retains a memory of the habit context, and this pattern can be triggered if the right habit cues come back. This situation is familiar to anyone who is trying to lose weight or to control a well-engrained habit. Just the sight of a piece of chocolate cake can reset all those good intentions."

Our actions are fired much faster by the more primitive, unconscious inner brain, responsible for our automatic actions, than by the outer, conscious brain, responsible for pattern recognition or memory. But to ‘program’ our habits at the centre, we need to first create patterns through our experience. To know and not to do is not yet to know.

We learn to drive a car consciously by using our cerebral cortex, until it becomes an unconscious process accessed through the cerebellum and basal ganglia. A footballer learns through practice but scores in the game through instinct and habit. We gain our greatest learning through conscious thought, but at our critical moments we achieve our greatest actions through our unconscious thought.

“We are what we repeatedly do; Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” - Aristotle

Tuning in is a process of conscious learning, leading to unconscious habit. The more we play the same game, the better we get at that game. Where do we experience flow? Is it a pattern or a habit? Is it conscious or unconscious? Hidden in the very centre of our brains, (above the cerebellum and the basal ganglia) lies the pineal gland - about the size of a pea. The pineal gland, which controls our melatonin levels, looks after our sense of rhythm with nature, synchronizing our internal biorhythms with nature’s cycles.

This tiny pea in the unconscious, automatic part of our brain has been recognized for thousands of years as the doorway to our flow.

For more information about Roger Hamilton and Wealth Dynamics, visit www.roger-hamilton-news.com

Reviewing the Fellowes Electron 120 Rotary Trimmer

Fellowes makes some really innovative
office tools including rotary trimmers. One of their trimmers is the
Electron 120, a device that features an LED cutting guide. Here's what
you need to know about this cutter's strength and weaknesses so you can
decide if it will fulfill your cutting needs.

Strengths:

• If you tend to work with letter-sized paper (8.5” x 11”),
  then the Electron 120 would probably be perfect for you. This trimmer
  has a 12-inch cutting length so it makes cutting letter-sized sheets a
  snap. You can also use this device to trimmer smaller sheets as well as
  photographs.
• This device uses SafeCut blade cartridges that
  enclose the blade in plastic, making them very safe to handle. The
  plastic protects your hands so you can use this trimmer without getting
  injured. SafeCut cartridges come in four different types: straight,
  folding, perforating, and wavy. The different blades make it easy to
  give your projects a unique look and it only takes a minute or so to
  change blades. Plus, you can store the cartridges right in this device's
  base for easy access.
• The Electron 120 comes with an LED
  cutting guide. This feature shows you where the cutting line is so you
  can get the best possible cut. (Note: to use this feature, you'll need a
  CR2032 battery.) Also, there's a paper clamp so your sheets can stay in
  one place.
• This is a pretty durable trimmer partly because
  the base is made out of metal. There are cutting guides printed on it
  for easy reference.
• The Electron 120 isn't very large thanks
  to its approximate dimensions of 3" (height) x 9” (width) x 19"
  (length). It's also very lightweight since it only weighs 4.5 pounds.
• Finally, this trimmer is affordable (it can be yours for less than $70.00) and it comes with a 2-year warranty.

Weaknesses:

• The Electron 120 can only cut 10 sheets of paper at a
  time, which isn't a whole lot. The cutting capacity should be fine for
  smaller jobs, but it wouldn't be sufficient if you need to cut a lot of
  paper at once. If you need to cut more, a stack or guillotine cutter
  would be more helpful.
• Also, the 12-inch cutting capacity
  makes it really hard to use this device for large sheets of paper.
  However, there is the Electron 180, which has an 18-inch cutting length.
  It would be a better choice if you like what the 120 has to offer but
  need to work with larger items.

Recommendation:
Overall, the Fellowes Electron 120 is a pretty good rotary trimmer. The
SafeCut blade cartridges make this device a great choice if you're
concerned about safety and the four different types of blades will make
it easy to give your work the look it needs. You'll always get the right
cut thanks to the LED cutting guide and you'll find that this is a
pretty durable product. Just be sure to consider the cutting length and
capacity because it you have a lot of large cutting jobs, this device
may not do the trick. However, if you decide that these two features are
fine with you, be sure to take a look at the Electron 120 today.

Reviewing the Swingline 1312 SmartCut Dial-A-Blade Rotary Trimmer

If you're looking for a rotary trimmer,
one name to look for is Swingline. The stapler giant manufactures a lot
of cutters including their basic 1312, one of several Dial-A-Blade
devices. This cutter is good for personal use and it can do three
different cuts, including wavy ones. To learn about this trimmer, check
out its strengths and weaknesses as outlined below.

Strengths:

• The 1312 is great to have around if you want a device
  that can give you different cutting styles. This device can do both
  straight and wavy cutting and it can even score your paper for easy
  folding. You don't even have the change the 3-in-1 blade to take
  advantage of the different cutting styles. Just turn the dial on top of
  the cutting head. It's incredibly easy.
• This trimmer has a
  12-inch cutting length, which is ideal for letter-sized paper (8.5” x
  11”) and photographs. Since this trimmer is small, it's perfect for
  personal use, especially if you're into crafting.
• The 1312's
  blade is located in a piece of plastic so it will be very difficult to
  injure yourself. The blade is made of steel and if it ever gets dull,
  you can purchase a replacement for it.
• This cutter has an
  alignment grid printed on the base. The grid measurements are given in
  both standard and metric units so you can choose between inches and
  centimeters. There's also a transparent paper guide so you'll be able to
  see what you're doing when you cut.
• The 1312 is covered by a limited one-year warranty and it's affordably priced.

Weaknesses:

• The 1312 can only cut 5 sheets of paper at a time. This
  cutting capacity will be fine if you're using the trimmer for a personal
  project, but it won't suffice if you need to cut a large number of
  sheets at once.
• Since this trimmer has a 12-inch cutting length, you won't be able to trim large sheets of paper with it.
• Most
  of this device is made out of plastic. While this makes the cutter
  lightweight (it only weighs about a pound) and portable, it does mean
  that it's not the most durable device. It wouldn't be a good choice if
  you need something for heavy-duty use.

The Swingline
1312 is a cutter that's clearly meant for personal use. Its cutting
capacity is fine if you're working on a small project, but it wouldn't
be good if you need to cut a lot of paper. The 12-inch cutting length is
fine and the 3-in-1 blade is unique. Both of these features make this
trimmer perfect for arts and crafts including collages, scrapbooking,
making greeting cards, and so on. It's great that the cutter is
lightweight and portable, even though the plastic isn't likely to
withstand a lot of use. Overall, the 1312 is a good trimmer for those
special projects so if you need something to add to your crafting
arsenal, take a look at it today.

Rating the Swingline ClassicCut CL800pro Guillotine Paper Cutter

Are you looking for a guillotine paper
cutter that can handle over 100 sheets at time? If you are, then you
should check out the Swingline ClassicCut CL800pro. Here's all the
details about it, including how it rates on a scale of 1 to 10.

• The CL800pro has an absolutely phenomenal cutting
  capacity. It can cut up to 150 sheets of paper at once which is amazing,
  especially when you compare it to other cutters which can usually
  process only 10 to 50 sheets.
• If you need to work with
  documents that are 8.5” x 11” (letter-sized) or smaller, the CL800pro
  would be a good choice. It has a 12-inch cutting length so you'll be
  able to take care of your paper easily. However, you won't be able to
  use this device for larger pieces of paper, which could potentially be a
  problem.
• One of the most helpful and innovative features of
  this device is its handle. It's D-shaped, which means both left- and
  right-handed people can easily use it. Most guillotine cutters have the
  handle on one side of the machine – usually the right one – which can
  make cutting difficult for some users.
• The CL800pro will give
  you an accurate cut whenever you use it. There's an alignment grid
  printed on the base and a stack clamp that will keep your paper flush.
  This device even has a cut indicator light so you'll see exactly where
  your sheets will be cut. (Note: to use the light, you'll need to install
  2 AA batteries.)
• Using the CL800p is very safe, so you won't
  have to worry about being injured when you cut. As soon as you touch
  the handle, the safety lock is triggered so your hands will be far away
  from the blade and will remain safe.
• This is a product that's
  really well-made so you can use it for a long time without needing to
  replace it. Even the blade is high-quality. It's made out of hardened
  steel so it can cut a lot without any problems.
• The CL800pro
  is surprisingly compact. It only measures 9” (height) x 16” (width) x
  14” (depth), so it can easily fit on just about any work surface.
  However, it may be better suited for production-type environments
  because it has a very utilitarian appearance.
• On top of it all, the CL800pro has a great limited warranty. It offers protection for up to 10 years.

Final rating: 8.
The Swingline ClassicCut CL800pro is definitely a different kind of
guillotine paper cutter. It has a lot to recommend it, the first and
main attraction being its cutting capacity. The cutting capacity is
excellent and it will be a real big help if you regularly process a lot
of paper. Also, this trimmer is safe to use and it's really great that
the safety lock will kick in when you touch the handle. While it would
be nice if the CL800pro could handle larger sheets of paper, it's
definitely worth a look if you need a need a new cutting device.

Supply Chain Management- Take Professional Help

Supply Chain Management facilitates in movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process, inventory, and finished goods from point of origin to the point of consumption.

The main reasons for companies to outsource this function is that it facilitates them to cut costs, shorten cycle time, facilitates to lessen inventory, and also focus on core competencies, increase expertise and much more.

If Supply Chain Management is outsourced to an capable logistic firm, it could help the company to reduce its work load. If the company decides not to outsource and manage everything on its own, then it could have problems in coordinating with the distribution network, which would  the raw material team, distributors, retailers etc at various levels.

The company will have to make strategies to have an effective flow in work at each level and at every point. This would be a time consuming process for the company if managed by it. If supply chain management is outsourced to a good trustworthy company, the pressure in house related to supply chain management could be reduced to a essential level.

Proper Supply Chain Management is also necessary, as delay in any process could increase the work time, as company will have to spend lot of time in rectifying the mistakes or loss. Postponement in one stage, has the power to stop and impact the whole process in procedure. Thus, letting the experts manage your supply chain is a much better idea.

 “Just in time” policy which was first introduced and practiced by Toyota, to supervise supply chain effectively and avoid checks or sudden shortage of raw material, is now being regularly practiced by many firms. A good supply chain at each level will definitely help to render goods on time to the final customer.
Letting professionals deal your supply chain gives the organization time to focus more on core competencies, and at the same time getting themselves be more flexible as their supply chain is being managed efficiently by professionals. Out sourcing this function helps to have better performance and costs are managed more in effect.

Thus, Smart Decision is to always outsource such daily logistics services to a trust worthy logistic firm.

Grading the Dahle Vantage 12E Guillotine Paper Cutter

German manufacturer Dahle makes a lot of
guillotine paper cutters, including one that can be used both at home
and at work: the Vantage 12E. Here's a close look at what this device
has to offer, as well as a brief discussion on whether it deserves an
“A”...or an “F.”

• The Vantage 12E has a 12-inch cutting length so it can
  easily trim paper that's letter-sized (8.5” x 11”) as well as smaller
  items including photographs. This is a good length for art projects and
  crafts. If you need a cutter that can process larger sizes of paper,
  Dahle makes bigger cutters that can trim paper up to 18 inches long.
• This
  cutter has the ability to slice through 15 sheets of paper at a time
  which should be sufficient for small and medium-sized projects. However,
  this cutting capacity would be unsuitable for large jobs just because
  it would take too long to process all the paper.
• When you use
  a guillotine paper cutter, safety needs to be a top priority. Luckily,
  the Vantage 12E has features that can help you stay safe. The blade
  won't fall down when it's raised which greatly reduces the risk of
  injury. Plus, you can lock the blade down when you're not using the
  cutter.
• The Vantage 12E has a couple of features to ensure
  everything stays in place when you use it. First, there are non-skid
  feet on the bottom of the base so the cutter will stay in one place.
  And there's an automatic paper clamp that will keep your documents
  neatly stacked so they won't fan, which can result in a botched cut.
• Getting
  your paper ready to trim is easy because the Vantage 12E has
  pre-printed cutting guides on the base. There's also a grid for
  measuring your materials before lowering the blade.
• This
  device is meant to be a personal paper cutter and you can certainly tell
  that from its size. The Vantage 12E only measures 14.75” x 10.75” so it
  won't take up much room at all, even if you have a tiny workspace.
  Also, it can be transported easily because it weighs just 11 pounds.
• This
  product comes at a pretty affordable price. It can be yours for less
  than $80.00 which is quite the deal considering all that it has to
  offer. Also, this product is covered by a lifetime warranty.

Final grade: A-.
The Dahle Vantage 12E is a first-rate guillotine paper cutter that
would be great for either personal or professional use. Its small size
makes it ideal for creative pursuits and also makes it portable.
(Although the size does mean that this cutter can't work with large
pieces of paper. It would be difficult processing a huge amount of
sheets as well.) Using this product is very safe and it will help you
get the cut you need for every project. So, if you're looking for a good
paper cutter, the Vantage 12E warrants your consideration.

Dynafold DE322AF Commercial Grade Paper Folding Machine Review

The Dynafold DE322AF is an excellent
system for medium to high volume folding applications. Designed to
handle a wider range of paper weights and sizes, this model is more
robust and versatile than other smaller Dynafold paper folders. The
additional automatic features offer added convenience and efficiency.
Here is a more detailed look at the DE322AF.

Strengths:

• This device utilizes an automatic friction feed system to
  slide individual papers into the plates for folding. It is adjustable
  for both standard and non-standard paper sizes and folds. Switching
  between folds is a quick adjustment and high precision needle bearing
  ensures precise creases. A pressure adjuster can be manipulated for
  accurate feeding of various amounts of paper. The wide feed roller
  helps to guarantee exact paper folding.
• Six standard folds
  are created by this machine. They are a single fold, half accordion or
  fold-out, double parallel, "Z" fold, "C" fold, and gate fold. Between
  these six, many items can be created, including but not limited to
  menus, newsletters, invoices, correspondence, and bulletins.
• A
  wide range of paper weights are accepted by the fold plates. Thickness
  is accounted for by a simple screw modification. Ten lb to 110lb bond
  can all fit through. This includes heavy paper stocks, index, tag
  board, vellum, and more.
• The feed tray can hold up to 500
  sheets at once. This device will fold items as small as 2" x 3" and as
  large as 12" x 17". Conveyor belt exit provides neat stacks of folded
  material without lumping them together. This machine is equipped with
  an anti-static electronic device to keep items from sticking to each
  other.
• The motor is rated for up to 10,000 pieces per hour.
  However, the recommended duty cycle is only 80,000 sheets per month. Be
  aware if you plan to use your folder at its maximum capacity on a daily
  basis, you will wear it out quickly.
• Dynafold offers a
  90-day limited warranty on this product. Make sure you note that
  doesn't include consumable parts, labor, or shipping.

Weaknesses:

• Even with the wide range of material accepted, glossy
  paper is not among them. Many offices don't use glossy paper and won't
  notice this weakness. But if your office does use it for folded items,
  you might be more interested in a machine that is capable of handling
  specialty materials.
• This folder requires manual setup. If
  you only ever use your folder for one style or rarely change styles this
  won't be too much trouble. However, getting the plates in the precise
  spot can be difficult and time consuming. If your office will need to
  change styles frequently, we recommend you save yourself the hassle and
  invest in an automatically adjusting device.

The
Dynafold DE322AF, as you can see, is well-suited to handle the folding
needs of many offices. While an automatic setup is often preferable,
once in place it is nice to have such a wide variety of material able to
be folded. Great capacity and speed provide increased productivity,
which will save you time and money. We think the DE322AF is an
excellent paper folder for any office.

Article Tags:
Dynafold De322af

5 Low-Cost Ways Of Rewarding Your Employees

If there isn't a sense of pride there, an employee won't be happy very long, and you won't be getting quality work out of them. That's why, when it comes to tips and advice for managers, the best course of action you can pursue is a concerted effort to establish and develop that sense of pride your employees should be feeling. The best part is that it doesn't have to cost much-and often times need not cost anything at all. Here are some of the best ways to make it happen:

The extra long lunch break. An extra 30 minutes on an employee's lunch break is an ultra low cost way of expressing your appreciation for a job well done. Most employees will acknowledge that more free time is an even greater gift than more money. Because all the money in the world doesn't do a bit of good if you can't ease some of the pressure.

An audience with upper management over good ideas. Many times employees feel like their contributions go unnoticed and uncredited. That's the greatest way to make your employees lose interest in their jobs and work only hard enough not to get fired. Ease the burden of trust. Assure your employees that their ideas are not being ignored or, worse yet, stolen.

Reward the initiative to pursue continuing education. In addition to good ideas on the job, you should also be rewarding accomplishments and initiatives outside the job. When your employees decide to improve themselves and add to their education, they can grow into even more valuable assets around the office, out in the field, or wherever you have them stationed. Some companies even spring for all or part of tuition, though that can get into a costly dilemma the more people decide to follow this course of action. It's far better to reward your employees with slight improvements in pay and perhaps small gifts to show a shared enthusiasm.

Recognize achievements of the individual in a public venue. Company newsletters and meetings are a great place to acknowledge the expertise and improvements of your employees, and pat the backs of those that make your company what it is.

Pizza parties! Take orders on favorite toppings, send out a company email about the party asking for everyone who is going to participate, and call in for delivery. Your employees will appreciate it and work harder knowing that you made the investment of time and money to say, "Job well done!"

Before You Move Out for Buying Property in South France

“South France is an ideal place if you want to buy a nice property at the best prices”. However, if you are an outside, its better that you come prepared.  If you end up buying property in South France that has got problems, it is you who will have to live with it for the life-time. Right! So, make sure that you make a decision based on detailed analysis and planning.

To begin with, it’s good that you learn some French words and phrases. For what? Well, this would increase your level of confidence when talking with the local people. A fair knowledge of French is sure to give you a winning edge as people will treat you better. Yes, you heard it right. French love their language and thus, your chances for buying property in South France increases multi-fold.

Next comes the turn of Internet which can be of great help for you when it comes to French property buying, French Mortgages and Notaires. Also find out an experienced French real estate agent who could help you in finding some great properties on sale. There are also so many more things that you need to know before you head for buying property in South France such as planning regulations and rights of access. A fair knowledge of French may be helpful while facing such situations.

At present, there are dozens of websites which offer help on property buying and selling in France. So, all you need to do is log onto several such sites and know as much information as possible. There is ample of online information about the property market in France. There are no hassles at all. Just be easy in your research and finally, say yes for the property which you want.

Fine French Homes is amongst the best online places for those who are in search for buying property South France. 

Online Property Auction: Benefits and Risks

Bidding in an online property auction provides real estate investors the chance to participate in distressed real estate sales all around the country, without leaving the comfort of their own home or office. As with all venues used to purchase real estate, bidding through Internet bidding sites for real estate carries significant benefits as well as risks.

The most obvious benefit of an online property auction is the ability it gives the buyer to bid on homes and commercial real estate regardless of the geographic location. Even if you live 500 miles away from a particular building, you can bid on it by bidding from your computer. For potential investors who live in secluded areas or areas with strong real estate investment competition, this opens the door to greater potential returns.

For some, bidding in a regular sale situation creates a bidding frenzy that could cause them to bid more than they intended just so they “win.” Some of this is eliminated through Internet bidding scenarios. You simply enter your maximum bid and walk away. If someone outbids you, you just move on to the next home or piece of real estate. 

With an online property auction bidding opportunity, you have the opportunity to view many properties all at the same time. You can be more selective in the properties you bid on, because you have so many to choose from. 

Of course, as with any investment opportunity, bidding on the Internet does have its downsides as well. If you are bidding on homes far from your geographic area, you will not have the opportunity to visit them in person. This could mean that there is a significant problem with the home that you are unaware of prior to purchasing it. One way to combat this potential problem is to hire a local agent to scout the homes on your behalf before you bid.

Also, sometimes you will pay high fees for the benefit of bidding through an online property auction. Make sure you research the costs before you sign up for an account or place any bids. Many of these sites have reasonable fees, so avoid those that over-inflate their costs in order to make an additional profit off of your purchase. 

Whether you are held back due to geographic constraints or simply want to expand your investment potential, bidding in an online property auction provides an ideal setting in which to benefit from tax sales, foreclosures, and other discount real estate scenarios. Do your research prior to bidding to ensure you get a good discount on the home, and soon you will see significant profits rolling in.

Why CHAS Accreditation Is Important To Your Business

Yet there are many businesses out there, who fail to adhere to the standards of quality represented by CHAS Accreditation each year, and the oversight or corner cutting (whatever you wish to call it) can lead to catastrophes on both personal and financial levels. Businesses often hesitate to invest in training because the focus can too often be on generating revenue or focusing on the primary orders of business before safety. After all, everyone needs to get ahead in life, but if you try to at the cost of health and safety, here is what it can mean for your business:

Unwanted attention from government agencies. Say you are in the transportation industry, and your drivers are constantly unprepared for roadside inspections and other common encounters with state or local authorities. That can result in some pretty hefty fines. It can lead to the company becoming a target for law enforcement. It can open you up to driver or pedestrian lawsuits in the event of an accident. In effect, it can kill your business to make these oversights.

On the job accidents. Too often, businesses think about success and failure in a financial regard while not realizing that there is a heartbeat, which drives daily operations. When you overlook this fact, your employees can be put in harm's way. Not only is this bad for business, but it also affects everyone that your employee is close to; everyone they love. Losing sight of the human equation too often leads to unsafe working conditions and greater possibility of personal tragedy.

A bad reputation in the community. Don't think that just because the Internet has given you a seemingly infinite customer base that you are in the clear. By "community," that can mean the people who live in the vicinity of the business, or it can mean the people most likely to come into contact with you. In other words, your customers. Gone are the days where you can sweep something under the carpet or venture out into another sector and hope past disasters fade into obscurity. When something goes wrong, it will follow you wherever you go and get back to the people who keep you in business.

Loss of productivity. So many businesses are reluctant to go full throttle with CHAS Accreditation because they fear the loss of productivity. Training employees on the measures of health and safety doesn't pass more product off the assembly line or answer customer calls. But it does give your employees the tools they need to avoid disaster and keep your organization in the black.

Article Tags:
Chas Accreditation

HSM 90.2cc Level 3 Cross Cut Compact Paper Shredder Review

You can't be too careful with private
information these days and that's one reason why shredders are so
important. Designed for secure personal use, the HSM 90.2cc is an
effective way to keep your identity safe. Programmed with automatic
features for simple use and a quiet motor, this handy device is very
convenient. Here are some of the strengths and weaknesses of the
90.2cc.

Strengths:

• The petite dimensions of this shredder allow it to store
  tidily under your desk. And moving it around won't be a problem, since
  it only weighs about nine pounds.
• A single switch controls
  on, off, and reverse functions. Once on, the machine sits in an energy
  conserving stand-by mode until use is needed. The blades start and stop
  automatically as items are inserted into the feed and shred. A full
  waste container also triggers the motor to stop until the bin is emptied
  and replaced. Reverse helps to unclog any paper jams by feeding
  materials back out to the user.
• The motor utilizes a powerful
  closed-tooth wheel drive system that prevents the penetration of dirt.
  This slows down wear and tear and helps to prolong the life of your
  machine. It is also thermally protected from overheating. The noise
  level produced measures about 65 decibels, which is much quieter than
  comparable shredders.
• A 8.9 inch opening accepts stapled and
  paperclipped documents as many as 4 sheets thick and shreds them as fast
  as 12 feet per minute. The particles created rate a level 3 security,
  keeping your confidential information safe. Paper confetti rains down
  into a 6.6 gallon waste container. The bin has an additional slot at
  the front of the machine for the quick addition of other waste.
• HSM offers a one year warranty on parts for this device with 180 days of coverage for labor.

Weaknesses:

• Level three is only medium security. While most
  confidential business and personal materials stay safe at this level,
  highly classified documents need to go through a high security device,
  such as the 125.2.
• The lower capacities, such as four sheets
  at 12 feet per minute, are only good for light use. Offices needing a
  shredder shared between multiple people with moderate needs will want
  something bigger. We suggest the HSM 104.3.
• The motor will
  need frequent cool down periods to avoid overheating. Users with only
  light shredding needs may not even notice this happening. But companies
  with more than occasional shredding will want a machine with a more
  powerful motor.

As you can see, the HSM 90.2cc is a
great little deskside shredder. A quiet motor and fast steel blades
along with automated features are all packaged into a compact device
that can sit under your desk. Security is at your fingertips with this
convenient and efficient shredder. We think the HSM 90.2cc is a great
option for a home office or company workspace needing light use by a
only a few users. We would recommend this device for your next personal
shredder.