Category: Business

  • To boldly go and make a mobile phone call.

    In 1973 the head of invention at Motorola, Martin Cooper made a cheeky phone call to the head of AT&T. It wasn’t a call that the D Joel Engels wanted to hear on his landline because it meant that his R and D team were a bunch of miserable failures. “Hello, Joel”, said Cooper, trying hard not to sound too triumphant, “it’s me, Martin! I’m calling you on a cellular phone, a real cellular phone!”. Big deal you might think, I call people on my mobile everyday but this was the first of it’s kind and it paved the way for the modern mobile that you have in your pocket right now. The ability to go to https://www.kingcommunications.ie/ and search for a vodafone store near me begins with this conversation.

    In fact, it begins with a different kind of conversation on a TV show that happened to be a big influence. It was Star Trek that first put the idea of a personal communicator into everyone’s head. Kirk’s  communicator even had a flip top lid and a ring tone (which, ironically, is an option on some phones) to tell him he was being called.

    It was a handy device that got him and the crew out of a lot of scrapes, It allowed him to ask Mr Scott or whomever was on the Transporter beam desk to get them out of whatever mess they’d managed to get themselves stuck into. As with us today there was even a mild panic if it was out of signal or it didn’t work for some reason. There were no game options on it either. This is a good thing as even the emotionless Spock would have become annoyed if he’d found Kirk playing “Among Us” for the umpteenth time during a mission.

  • Have you thought about your business brand personality?

    What is the nature of your business and what is it’s brand supposed to be? It’s a tricky question and one that might need the services of a Brand to Strategy Agency to help you define it and shape it. A good brand is essential in this day and age of online and offline marketing where you could be visible on a variety of platforms. Whilst this gives you a good chance to increase sales it also means that you need to be united in the message. Here are a few pointers.

     

    1. Is your product or service exciting? If it’s selling something relatively pedestrian there is very little point to trying to make it exciting. Your customers are not looking for a ride of their lives; they may want something more steady ( as we shall see). Disney would be a good example of this.
    2. Competence. As we said before if it’s a product or service that requires the need of a steady pair of hands it’s likely that the brand needs to be competence and timeliness. Financial services works as an illustration.
    1. Sincerity. You mean what you say and you do it in a cheerful and constructive way. It’s all about honesty and reliability. One of the best examples of this would be that of the Michelin Man.
    2. Are you rugged? Do you want to give over the fact the brand is outdoorsy? The images that you use here are very important. You are not a couch potato kind of company. Regatta Clothing would be a fine example of this.

     

    This might give you some starting points but it’s probably better to talk to the professionals about it. Looking for a brand strategy agency? Just click on the link.

  • Four types of plasma spray coating

    The oil and gas industry, and others including automotive and aerospace, commonly use thermal spray coating in their production and manufacturing. High velocity oxygen fuel in particular has emerged as an alternative to hard chrome plating.

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    The distinct types of coating available make it easy to find a cost-efficient and high-performance product to shield metal components from wear, corrosion, heat and oxidisation. Available coatings include high velocity oxygen fuel, arc, flame and plasma polymer composite. You can also use a thermal coating to repair components that have been subject to wear or damage and restore them to their original specification.

    Let’s look at four types of plasma coating you should consider:

    Plasma

    Using plasma polymer composite as a thermal spray coating requires the applicant to spray either molten or part-molten powders over the component’s surface. The applicant will then expose the powdered form of the coating to a plasma flame at high heat, with the temperature increased rapidly using a carrier gas to propel it to the component’s surface. It is typical to use high heat and a lower velocity with plasma coatings.

    The key for the plasma polymer composite coating is usually enabled by roughening the surface using grit blasting. The substrate surface then impacts against the hot material and rapidly loses temperature and shrinks. The abrasive surface peaks provide a substantial bond to be used for the final coating. Performed correctly, this is a ‘cold process’ due to the low temperature of the substrate.

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    HVOF

    HVOF (high velocity oxygen fuel) is a thermal coating process that uses supersonic velocity to throw partly molten powder to a substrate surface to achieve strong bonding. This powder will then rapidly lose temperature and solidify, the result of which is a sturdy mechanical bond to the component’s surface. High-velocity oxygen fuel coatings are usually dense and have low porosity.

    Flame spray coating

    For a long time, flame spray coating was the norm and was widely utilised. This process uses an oxy-acetylene flame to propel the thermal coating. The choice of material to coat the component is then melted by the flame’s heat and the compressed air generated will throw it over the product surface. Flame spray coating has been popular because it necessitates a fairly low temperature to facilitate this adherence.

    Arc spray coating

    Arc spray coating is a fast process and usually works out to be cost-effective. An electric arc and twin-wire feedstock are utilised in melting and developing the compressed air needed to throw the melted particles of the coating against the receiving surface. If you need optimal bond strength whilst keeping a low substrate heat and the ability to coat a larger area, this could be the right choice. You can choose from application variants to optimise wear and corrosion resistance, anti-fretting, or even use the process to repair worn and damaged components. This is a flexible and portable solution that can be used onsite.

  • Making an office move less stressful

    There are plenty of situations in life that involve stress. One that doesn’t have to be that stressful is the move in an office. It may be that you feel your business has outgrown the current space that you’re in and it’s time to seek pastures new. There are several steps that you can take to make sure that this move and transition goes smoothly.

    The first thing to do is make sure that when you get to the new office it is connected to the internet and the phone lines are in so that you don’t lose any more business than you have already accounted for in your relocation plans. The second feature to make sure staff know where they are going to be on the first day.  The last thing you want is for staff to turn up and  be idly wandering around wondering where they are supposed to set their computers up. In order to help your staff adjust to their new surroundings it is worth getting them involved in the moving process and seeing it as a team building opportunity.

    Naturally there are always issues that can occur when moving offices, but at least you can rest assured that if you have forgotten any essential element of furniture or office equipment you can always call on a Next day delivery office desks company such as Bestbuyofficechairs  and they could be there ready to provide you with the right materials to that you can crack on and get the business up and running properly.

  • Tackling Food Waste in the Food Industry

    Many people have seen the problem of food waste in landfills and have decided to do something about it but are not sure how to go about tackling food waste in the food industry. This is a problem that affects many different businesses in the food chain, but especially the restaurant industry. Food waste is a problem in landfills across the world because so much of our food is simply thrown away by restaurants. So, if you want to know how you can tackle food waste in the food industry then keep reading.

    The first place you need to look to see if you can find solutions to the food waste problem is with the restaurant industry. Restaurants have to deal with all kinds of things including food waste on a regular basis. You might be surprised to find that some of the restaurants are actually doing more than they are supposed to be doing to reduce their food waste, which is a great example of how a business can do more for the environment than they might realize. If your restaurant is one of these, why not spread the word with some positive Food PR? Visit Leapfrog PR for more details.

    Find out about tools available to calculate how much food your restaurant is throwing away. This is a very useful tool because it gives you the ability to figure out how much waste you need to deal with. If you want to tackle food waste in the food industry, then this is one of the most effective ways that you can use.

  • Starting your Own Successful Accountancy Firm

    If you are thinking that the time has come for you to bid farewell to working for someone and become your own boss, you have a lot of hard, but rewarding work ahead of you. The benefit of being an accountant is that you are providing a service that is always needed, and if you have identified a niche in the market and are good at what you do, it shouldn’t take you too long to build up your own client base.

    When you are starting up on your own, you will have the freedom and the responsibility of making decisions that you haven’t had to make when working for someone else – from whether you need more staff to which software for financial advisors such as this www.intelliflo.com it can sometimes feel a little daunting having to make these kinds of decisions.

     

    Before you begin you will want to spend some time on your business plan – creating projections of profits, as well as doing your research on any competition and what your accountancy firm will offer that is different and better is something that will not just help you, but will also help anyone who has an interest in the company.

    For example, if you need to secure a loan from a bank to help with the initial start-up costs, they will want to see a business plan as evidence that you have thought about your business, researched it and planned well.

  • How to get useful feedback for your business

    For individuals in the English market town of Tewkesbury, a simple search of Accountants Tewkesbury on Google will present them with over a million search results. It can be hard to find the right accountant due to the abundance of choices that seem available on the internet. The vast majority of accountancy firms now have an online presence, this is very important to gather new clients and create a good reputation. The lack of a website may make individuals appear less professional and capable of carrying out their work. Other ways in which companies may lose credibility is through many bad reviews. It is therefore very important that employees strive to make every client happy.

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    Asking for feedback is an important step when trying to improve any services a company may offer. Some people may feel shy when leaving feedback which is why the option of anonymous surveys can be extremely beneficial. People tend to be more honest when they have a choice to remain anonymous. Surveys can be done on paper or using online survey websites which can be shared with a simple link. Giving people an empty box at the end, to write any other thoughts or comments in, is also recommended as it helps people bring up concerns others may not have thought of.

  • How to Tell If My Office Chairs Need Replacing?

    You may be wondering how to tell if your office chairs need replacing? Maybe you are getting ready to put new furniture into your office or even just replacing a few chairs that have been used for a while. Regardless of when it is going on, there are a number of signs that can let you know that the chair you have in your office is no longer functional and needs to be replaced. In this article I will provide you with several signs to watch out for when it comes to your office chairs.

    First let’s take a look at what you should look for when it comes to your chair. The first thing that you want to do is look at some newer chairs so that you can compare them to the chair that you currently have. Newer chairs often have improved ergonomic features and more adjustable parts which can help if you have been suffering with back pain, for example. If your current chair no longer provides the support that it used to, it’s time for something new. For Reception Chairs, visit https://www.bestbuy-officechairs.co.uk/reception-chairs/

    Another sign that your chair needs to be replaced is if it is making any noise when you sit in it. If chairs are making noises, then they are probably not comfortable anymore and may have loose or broken components. Most office chairs today are designed to make as little noise as possible so that people can work longer hours without suffering from strain.

  • How to Make sure your Office is Covid Safe

    With a global pandemic doing the rounds, keeping things clean has never been so important. With many of us now back working from the office once again, a lot of thought has been put into keeping the office clean and safe, and there are lots of ways that you can make sure that your office is keeping staff safe from catching Covid-19.

    Here are a few things to do to minimise the risks in your office…

     

    Good Ventilation – Having good ventilation can really make a huge difference. A small, enclosed office with no ventilation is a breeding ground for germs and an environment where germs can spread very easily. Look at installing an air filter system, and if possible, keep windows open to allow air to flow into the room.

    Pay Attention to Cleaning – You may want to get a professional in like this office cleaning Gloucester based company to make sure that the cleaning is done thoroughly.  Pay particular attention to cleaning items that are touched a lot throughout the day – doorhandles, entry buttons and doorbells, as well as light switches should be cleaned regularly – maybe set up a rota for people to make sure that these items are being cleaned often.

    Social Distancing – Keeping distance from people is important to prevent the virus from spreading – sitting apart from each other will keep the germs at bay, but in many places, there is not enough room to create the required distance. In this case, Perspex screens between people are a good barrier.

  • The benefits of visitor management software

    Is your business still using a signing in book or paper records to detail who is visiting your premises? Are you still handwriting name tags? It is time to enter the 21st century and consider software that can do all this for you.

    These traditional processes can be error prone and time-consuming, plus, they might not be as safe and secure as you want.

    A software system that deals with visitor management will improve the security of your building and the safety of your staff. A system like this helps to identify anyone visiting your business quickly. You can benefit from the accuracy and speed of cutting-edge scanners, cameras and software. This will save time when guests are checking in and have a positive impact on how your business is viewed. For more details on a Visitor Management System, visit a site like OFEC

    When you provide reception staff with the tools to do a great and efficient job, they will experience better job satisfaction and feel more empowered in their actions.

    An added bonus is that visitors to your business can be pre-registered, with all necessary details obtained and logged before they arrive. There are also built-in features to this kind of software that includes the ability to send out automatic emails ahead of time containing maps, directions, company information and any other pertinent details. This makes the check-in process so much more efficient, meaning meeting time can used to its full extent for more productive matters.

    With a modern management system, you can see instantly who is in the building at that moment, which is incredibly useful for fire evacuations, for example. It will also provide you with useful data on visitor patterns.