TODAY INDIA

The Secrets of Starting Business Successfully

Starting Business Secrets will help you to start your own business successfully.

The American Dream is, and always will be, to come up with an idea, start a business and become rich from your own efforts. Based upon this motivation, thousands of businesses fail each year, due primarily to not being familiar with the basics involved in running a business.

This report will enlighten you, and give you a number of suggestions you can use to better guarantee your chances for success. This report is written with the warning that any and every business venture contains certain inherent risks, and any number of alternatives. We do not espouse that any one way is the right way or that our suggestions are the only way. On the contrary, we advise that before investing any money in a business venture, you seek counselling and help from a qualified accountant and/or attorney.

Just about the first thing you should consider before deciding to start or purchase a business is the legal form you’ll be operating under. There are basically four choices: sole proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership, and/or corporation.

Each has a number of advantages and disadvantages. We’ll try to enumerate some of them for you.

As much as anything else, for many people starting a business is a form of ego-gratification, and they form a corporation for some sort of prestige gain – just to say, “I own a corporation.”

With just a little bit of observation, you’ll find that one of the major causes of business failures is due to the founder wasting start-up capital on frills, such as an impressive store- front office, expensive furnishings, and corporate legal costs.

One of the basic traits you must develop it you’re going to be successful in business, is a tight hold on your expenditures. In fact, a good rule of thumb is that anything that does not make money for yo or protect your investment, should not be purchased at this time. Very definitely, this applies to the expense of setting up your own corporation.

Unless you have a partnership and start your business as such, the only real advantage to forming a corporation would appear to be that a corporate structure will semi-protect the property you personally own.

As an example, you own a home and car. You form a corporation to protect these possessions from business losses. Yet, if you can be found guilty of misusing corporate funds, your business creditors can pierce the corporate shield and come after your possessions.

Basically, if you invest everything you have in your business, as most newcomers do, you don’t usually need a corporation because you have nothing to protect. Your household possessions, personal belongings, generally your car, and even a portion of the equity in your home is protected by the homestead provision of the Federal Bankruptcy Act, and cannot be taken away from you.

As a sole proprietor or partner of a business you’ll be paying taxes on your overall earnings, much the same as if you were holding down a salaried or hourly paid job. Whether you do or don’t take out money as a salary will have no bearing on the earnings of your business and tax return.

The often advertised advantage of incorporating, that you can manipulate your salary in order to save on tax dollars, is real because of corporation laws. However, the IRS frowns on this practice. When your business is successful and making a lot of money, definitely check with your accountant on the advantages of incorporating.

As a corporation, you’ll be subject to a number of other drawbacks as well: generally higher state taxes, stricter laws concerning the operation of your business, more elaborate accounting procedures, and legal papers that are required just about every time you make a major move or sign almost any contract. Thus, your legal and accounting fees will be much higher as a corporation than will those required for a sole proprietorship type of business.

As a sole proprietor or partnership, you’ll find many areas require the registration of your business name. The cost however, is minimal, ranging from $5 to $100. About the best way to find out what laws apply in your area, is to call your bank and ask if they need a fictitious name registration card or certificate in order for you to open a business account.

Selecting a name for your business is quite important to you and particularly relative to advertising. Your business name should describe the product or services you offer. Fancy names such as, Linda’s Clipping Service will lose potential “walk-in and passing” customers to the beauty shop across the street that calls itself, Patti’s Beauty Salon or Jane’s Hair Styling Shop.

The advantage of using your full name in the title of your business, such as Johnny Jones’ Meat Lockers, has the advantage of making credit somewhat easier to come by – provided you pay your bills on time – but it also includes the disadvantage of confining your services to a local or at most, a regional area.

Should you buy, lease, or rent a space for your business? think twice before you make any decision along these lines. Most businesses tend to grow quickly or they never get off the ground.

There are a few exceptions, but only a very few, that tend to grow at a modified rate.

So, buying a piece of property and setting up your business on or within that property, obligates you to ownership regardless of what happens to your business.

Leases are almost always very strong contracts written by attorneys to the advantage of the property-owner. When you sign an agreement to pay someone for the use of their space over any length of time, you’re “nailed in” to paying for that space regardless of what happens to your business.

In the beginning, it’s wise to either get the shortest-term lease possible, or arrange to rent with an option to lease at a later date. This does not apply to a retail business, unless your particular business happens to be an untried one.

Definitely, you should open a business bank account. In selecting a bank for your business, scout around and look for one that can, and will help you. Determine what your banking needs will be, and then via telephone, interview the managers of the banks in your area. The important convenient bank to your business location.

A point to remember: the closer you can make the relationship between you and the bank manager, the better your chances are going to be for approval on loans and/or special favors you may need at a later date.

Try to become acquainted with as many of the bank employees as possible. The better you know them, the more courtesies they’ll be extending especially to you in the course of your association.

Just as a doctor is a specialist in his field, and you go to him for medical problems, your banker is a specialist in his field and you should go to him for your money problems. In business, you’ll have to learn that everyone is an expert in his own line of work, and in your associations with other business people, refrain from acting like a “sharpie” and/or pretending that you know exactly how everything works in someone else’s specialty.

You’ll find that very often, different banks specialize in different types of businesses. As an example, you’re sure to find banks that specialize in real estate transactions, export- import businesses, and even manufacturing operations only.

What I’m saying here is that if you’re planning to sella fairly expensive item, your customers will probably need and/or want financing. It will behoove you to select a bank familiar with your type of product that will afford your customers, through you, contract financing.

Some of the questions you should ask of your banker include the following:

Is it necessary to maintain a certain balance in your account before the bank will approve a loan for you? What qualifications must you have in order to obtain a line of credit with the bank?

Does the bank limit the number of loans, or types of loans it will approve for small businesses?

What is the bank’s policy regarding the size of a check you might deposit that requires holding for collection?

And what about checks less than that amount – will they be immediately credited to your account?

In almost all types of businesses, it will be to your benefit to set up with your bank, a method of handling VISA, Master Charge, and regional credit cards. The important thing here is to ultimately set up your account in the bank that will service all of these credit transactions for you – one stop for all your banking needs. In most instances, you’ll find that having the capability to fill orders/make sales via credit card transactions, will increase your volume of sales appreciatively.

Once you’ve made the decision as to which bank is going to handle your account, you’ll need your Social Security Number or your Federal Employer’s Identification Number, your driver’s license, the fictitious name certificate, and if you’re requesting a VISA or Master Charge franchise, you’ll also need a financial statement.

For corporations, you’ll also need a corporate resolution approving of the opening of your business account.

There are different policies exercised in just about every state regarding installation/hook-up charges by the telephone and utility companies. Some require a deposit, and some don’t.

You’ll find that a great number of city business license departments are there solely for the purpose of collecting another tax. Depending on the type of business you’re asking a license for, the building and zoning people may inspect your premises for soundness of structure and safety. Generally, you won’t encounter any difficulties – you simply pay your fee to operate your business in that city, and the clerk types your name onto a city license certificate.

Relative to sales tax permits and licenses, each state’s rules and regulations very widely. The best thing to do is call your state offices and ask for information concerning registry and collection procedures. Many states require an advance deposit or bond, and you’ll find that some wholesalers or manufacturers will not sell to you at wholesale prices until you can show them your sales tax permit or number.

Should your business entail selling your products or services across state lines, in another state, you’re not required to collect taxes except in those where you have offices or stores.

You may find also that your particular business requires the collection of Federal Excise Taxes. For information along these lines, check in with your local office of the Internal Revenue Service.

Some states also require certain businesses to hold state licenses, such as those required in many states for TV Repairmen.

These are known as “occupational permits” and are most often required of barbers, hair stylists, real estate people and a number of other consumer oriented businesses. If you have any doubts, check with your state offices for a list of those occupations that require licensing.

Any business doing business in any type of interstate commerce is subject to federal regulations, usually through the Federal Trade Commission. This means that any business that shops, sells or advertises in more than one state is subject to such regulation, and this includes even the smallest of mail order operations.

Normally, very few business people ever have and contact with the federal regulatory agencies. The only exceptions being when there is a question of your operating your business unethically or illegally.

Any business that sells or distributes food in any manner almost always requires a county health department permit. If your business falls into this category, simply call the county health department and invite them out to your place of business for an inspection. The fees generally range from about $25, depending on the size of your business when they first inspect it for permit approval.

There are also a number of businesses that require inspection by a fire marshall, and fire department approval. Generally, these are those that handle flammable materials or attract large numbers of people, such as a theater. Overall, the local fire department has to be allowed to inspect your premises whenever they desire to do so.

You may also run into a requirement for an air and/or water pollution control permit. These specifically apply to any business that burns anything, discharges anything into the sewers or waterways, or use any gas-producing product, such as a paint sprayer.

Without a doubt, you’ll need to check on local regulations relating to advertising display signs. Each city or township makes its own rules and then enforces those rules according to its own thinking -check before you contract to have a sign made for your business.

The design and placement of your sign is very important to your business – specifically to retail establishments – but let me remind you that your business sign is usually the first thing a potential customer sees and as such, it should catch his eye and leave an impression that lasts. It would be a good idea to ride around your town and take a look at the signs that catch your eye, and try to determine the impression of the business that sign leaves on you. This is a basic learning formula for determining the design, size and placement of your business sign.

Some of the other things to consider before opening for business – If you intend to employ one or more employees, you’ll be required to deduct Federal Income Taxes, and Social Security payments from their checks. This will involve your filing for a Federal Tax Number and necessitates contact with your local IRS Office.

Most states have “unemployment taxes” which will have to be deducted from the paychecks of any employees you hire. And there are a number of states that have income taxes – disability insurance – and any number of other taxes. Again, the best thing to do is check with your local office of the IRS. And above all else, don’t forget to ask for the rules of the minimum wage law, and comply.

When your business grows to the point of needing additional help, don’t be afraid to look for and hire the help you need. when you’re ready to hire someone, simply run an ad in your local paper and/or register your needs with the local office of your state’s employment service. Businesses either grow or die, and those that grow eventually need more people in order to continue growing.

When that time comes, hire the additional people you need, and your business will continue growing. If you don’t, for whatever reason, you’ll find yourself married to your business and your business growth stymied.

Regardless of how small your business is when you begin, never walk in with the thought in mind that it’s something to keep you busy. Anyone with an attitude of that kind is a fool. You begin and make a business successful in order to realize financial freedom. Establish your business. Put it on its feet, and then hire other people to do the work for you. And those businesses that require an operations manager, or someone to run a phase of the business you’re too busy to handle, hire the person needed or the business will surely suffer.

To protect the investment of your business, you need business insurance. If you’ve never had any experience with business insurance, simply look under the heading of “business insurance” in your phone directory. Ask for bids from several different companies or agents…Primarily, you should have a policy that gives you general liability, fire, workmen’s compensation, business interruption, and vehicle coverage. You amy also want coverage against possible losses related to burglary, robbery, Life & Accident, Key Man, and Fidelity Bonds.

As the sole proprietor of a business, you won’t be paid as an employee, so there will be no income tax deducted from whatever you withdraw from the company’s earnings. What you’ll have to do is a gain check with the IRS Office for a Tax Guide For Small Businesses Handbook, and probably end up filing an estimated tax return on a quarterly basis.

The minute you open your doors for business, you’ll have to spend some time engaged in the work of bookkeeping. Exactly how, and using what forms, you keep books, should be on the recommendations of a good tax counselor…The same holds true for your overall business and/or payroll accounting system. Look for an experienced CPA that knows the accounting problems to your particular kind of business, and solicit his advise/counseling.

If your business is going to involve the possible purchase or lease of operating equipment, again seek the help of your tax counselor for the most advantageous method of obtaining the needed equipment.

Basically, arranging for your suppliers to give you materials on credit will depend upon your honesty and personal financial statement. The best way is usually a personal visit to the person with the power to approve or disapprove of credit at the company where you want to set up a credit account. Show him your financial statement, and explain your prospects for success. Then assure him that you’ve always honored all of your obligations, and that if ever there’s a question or problem, you’d like for him to call you at home. And of course, give him your home phone number.

We won’t go into the exigencies of advertising your products, services or business here, but there is something along these lines you should always keep in mind. The best kind of advertising your business can receive is that you don’t really pay for – publicity.

When something unusual happens to you, your business, or your employees – that’s news, so be sure to tell the news media in your area about it.

The most important ingredient of your eventual success will be the soundness of the planning you did before you started your business. Any number of bad things can really throw your business into a tailspin, but it you’ve done your homework well – really set up a detailed business plan before starting – your losses or setbacks will be minimal. Success takes planning, and within this report, you’ve got a basic checklist…The rest is up to you…Good luck, and may your life overflow with success in all that you undertake from this moment forward.

10 Twitter Rules for Business Success

As far as I am concerned, Twitter is a must have for business; whether you are using Twitter to promoting your business or establishing your expertise is a field it is a crucial piece of the puzzle to getting recognized and building relationships. But with all the clutter in the Twitterverse it’s important not to ignore the etiquette of Twitter, otherwise you might find that you are not getting the most of this popular social networking platform.

Top 10 Twitter Etiquette Tips for Business

1. Listen to your mother and Mind Your Manners
This is just good common sense. As someone who is a marketing professional first I always like to say, “New Tools Old Rules.” If someone mentions you or retweets you, if at all possible thank them. Not only do People like to be recognized for their efforts but this is a valuable action so not thanking them would be rude. This is also a great way to begin building a relationship on Twitter. This small gesture may open the lines of communication between you and a potential customer or business partner. Show your appreciation, and people will be more likely to re-tweet your offerings again and again. Even better, return the favor and retweet one of their posts.

2. Use #Hashtags Appropriately
I personally love hashtags, they are a great way to encourage participation not to mention help others track and find information. Having said that it is important not to overuse them. While I like the long hashtag as much as the next person, using it too often or putting a hashtag in front of every word of your post will do nothing more than annoy your followers.

3. Resist the Urge to Tweet Too Much
Time and time again, research has shown that there is a fine line between just enough sharing and too much. Often times business that are new to Twitter, don’t yet understand this principle. Don’t fill your followers’ feeds with spammy Tweets. The best way to engage your audience is to post relevant, interesting, useful, and original content. Before you post, ask yourself: “Would I care about this if I were a follower?”

Tip: If you have a lot of ideas, use a program like Hootsuite to schedule your tweets so that they can be spaced out.

4. Warn Followers if You’re Going to Tweet A Lot
If you want to live-tweet an event at your business or charity gathering, you will need to tweet a lot!. While it’s a good idea, you may lose more followers who feel assaulted by a barrage of tweets. A little fair warning will be much appreciated, and your followers will likely give you a pass for the day.

Tip: Tell them to check out Twalala or Twittblocker

5. Watch What You Tweet
There have been some famous and embarrassing blunders on social media that have gotten both individuals and even entire companies in a lot of trouble. Never use your brand’s Twitter account to discuss controversial topics, send inappropriate photos, or use explicit language. If you’re on a personal account, the sky’s the limit and you can debate anything you like. However, in a business setting, unless it directly pertains to your product or service, it may be best to leave certain incendiary subjects like religion and politics alone it may bring you more trouble than they’re worth.

6. Don’t Get Too Personal
Developing relationships with customers is one the primary goals of Twitter, but you should try to keep your posts about relevant business information. Your followers don’t need to know your personal business. I will concede that there is a benefit to adding a personal touch from time to time, especially in a small business. If you’re getting married or a favorite employee just had a baby, you may want to share the news for your brand loyalists to celebrate with you. Just be careful when considering what is appropriate to share.

7. Write Professionally
Your social media presence is an extension of your business persona. Always use proper grammar and spelling it will help you maintain a professional image. (No one wants to see a law firm or accountant office tweet “OMG! Its not 2 late 4 u to file ur taxes!”).

Tip: Be sure to use proper forms of commonly misused words like there, they’re, and their.

8. Be Aware of Your Audience
Keeping rule #6 in mind, try and tailor your content to fit your audience. If your brand is focusing on tweens and teens, speak their lingo. If you are a B2B company, you will definitely want to use industry jargon. Be sure to post information that is relevant and timely to those following you and those you want to follow you.

Tip: If applicable awards shows and sporting events are great ways to engage customers.

9. Be Timely With Communication
Once you’ve started a conversation with someone on Twitter, it is imperative that you respond to them in a timely manner. Even more importantly, if someone poses a question to you, answer them! Social media is great for giving you an opportunity to engage immediately and directly with your consumer base. Nothing is worse than asking a company a question and not hearing back from them for 3 days.

10. Address Customer Service Issues Privately
Almost any customer who tweets you with a complaint or concern wants to be heard, but not all want to engage in a public dialogue. Directly address consumers through direct message, off the public “floor.”

Tip: you can even ask them for a phone number and call them personally to show them you care about fixing the issue.

BONUS: Don’t buy into personal attacks.
There are always those people who complain and no matter what you say they will never be happy. To make this worse, Twitter is a medium of text communication which means a definite margin of misunderstanding because there’s no way to hear someone’s tone of voice or observe their body language. What may be meant as a joke could escalate into something more negative. if it seems a conversation is deteriorating into something contentious it’s wise to just walk away. Trust me, It’s just not worth it.

Twitter is one of the most effective ways to marketing your business of the last decade. Follow these rules, and you’re sure to have many happy tweets ahead of you.

Build Your Buzz!!

We Used to Sacrifice Lives to Preserve Our Freedom. Now We Sacrifice Our Freedom to Preserve Lives

When I was entering my teens, the Vietnam war was still going. I assumed then that it would go on indefinitely and that when I turned eighteen my name would go into the lottery and I too might be called up. I dreaded the prospect, though, even then, I could understand the rationale of conscription and why my dad supported it so strongly. Our society had been built on democratic principles that enshrined fundamental human freedoms. Those freedoms were under threat from the godless ideology of Communism (or so we had been told) and so it was right and proper that we stand together to defend our country and protect those freedoms, even if it meant that countless numbers of our young men must die, perhaps including me!

Times have changed. I thank God that I did not have to go and fight in Vietnam, and I am now unequivocally opposed to the practice of conscription. That’s because I no longer believe the way our wars are sold to us – as noble causes. The ‘domino principle’ that was used to justify the stand in Vietnam turned out to be vacuous. We had no business being in Vietnam any more than we did in Iraq, Afghanistan or Syria. I no longer believe in conscription because I don’t trust the government. Even so, I accept the basic principle, that there are things worth dying for, and that we should be ready to pay a cost to defend our freedoms. So… what happened?

I remember when lockdowns were first announced, I posted a video on Facebook, expressing concern and suggesting that we should think about where we draw the line. If we accept social distancing and stay-at-home orders, is there a point where we draw a line? When we’re no longer allowed to embrace our children – is that where we draw the line?

I posted that in March 2020, and received an immediate call from my bishop, asking me to take it down. He said, “nobody is saying that we can’t embrace our children”, as if I had ventured into the absurd. I took the video down. Within a few weeks of that phone call I watched news footage of a man disembarking his plane in Darwin where his young son ran up to embrace him. Dad stepped back with his hands in the air. Lockdown rules had come into force while he had been in flight and, indeed, the man was forbidden to embrace his child.

Not long after that my position as parish priest was terminated – a position that I’d held for thirty years. At least that meant I could repost my video. Yes, I’ve been able to speak freely ever since, though no doubt many had hoped that by denying me a pulpit, I’d be left preaching into a void.

I have never accepted, and I do not accept now, that what is driving our government’s response to this ‘great pandemic’ is purely a concern for public health. That is largely because the statistics do not justify, and have never justified, the level of totalitarian response we have endured.

Yes, people have died. Indeed, a good friend of mine died from COVID 19. He died in Syria and not in Australia, but I don’t deny for a second that the virus is real and deadly. Even so, there are a lot of things in this world that can kill us, and of course governments should play some role in trying to protect us, but it’s a matter of balance.

The roads can be deadly. People die every day from car accidents but we don’t reduce the national speed limit to 40 km/hour, even though we know full well that this would save more than a thousand lives each year!

We know that by allowing families to build in-ground pools in their backyards that the number of domestic drownings will inevitably increase. We still let them do it.

We know that by banning the sale and consumption of alcohol, as the US did for a full thirteen years (between 1920 and 1933, road deaths would be reduced, domestic violence cases would decrease, and there would be way less brawling on the streets. Even so, not only do we not ban the sale of alcohol, but even in the most serious lockdowns, the sale of alcohol has been considered an essential service!

I simply do not believe that public health was ever the sole and sufficient reason for locking down huge numbers of healthy people, and if it were, surely more weight would have been given to the health cost of the lockdowns.

Lockdowns destroy small businesses and lose people their jobs, which in turn causes stress, poverty, depression and domestic tensions. Moreover, while lockdowns may only be a minor disruption for the well-to-do and the well-healed, for those who are on the edge, lockdowns threaten to push them over the edge.

As I mentioned, I have lost one friend to COVID. Even so, I know of seven who have died through suicide during these lockdowns. One of the boys in my boxing club told me one night of how he had gone to see his dad but got there to find that he had hanged himself. How do you recover from something like that?

I read that during the Melbourne lockdown, youth suicide rose by 180%. I’m surprised it’s not more.

I haven’t had paid employment myself since I lost my position in the church and I’ve been struggling. Lockdowns are suffocating. The universe no longer seems like a friendly place. Stopping the pain through self-destruction starts to look like a credible way forwards. It is not, of course. It never is. Even so, I have felt the pull from the abyss, and I weep for those for whom that pull has been just too great.

We used to think that freedom was worth dying for. What happened? Well… the narrative changed.

In today’s official narrative we are indeed at war, but the enemy is COVID and we are all standing together to fight against it.

Yes, we will all have to endure some hardship and, inevitably, some will have to sacrifice more than others, but once we have achieved victory over the virus enemy, all these hardships will soon be forgotten. The economy will bounce back, small businesses will thrive again, the government will relinquish all emergency powers, and electronic tracking and surveillance will be gone forever. Those who suicided will all be resurrected. and we won’t even remember what social distancing was as we’ll all be too busy embracing one another in celebration!

Does this sound about right?

The only thing that makes the official narrative look plausible is that the counter-narratives, most of which point to secret cabals plotting the destruction of the human race, look even less plausible. Personally, I don’t accept any of these narratives. Rather, I believe that what is driving the worldwide response to the virus are the same twin forces that drive just about everything else in this world – namely, the lust for power and money, both of which feed on fear.

Fear sells newspapers, fearful populations are easy to control, and, of course, in this extraordinarily litigious culture, both companies and governments are terrified of being sued should they be held responsible for someone’s death because they did not do enough to protect them!

The institutional church works exactly this way. I remember while I was still in seminary hearing a bishop warn us that we (the church) must be careful not to apologise to our Indigenous population lest we be sued like the church in Canada which was then looking like it might soon be insolvent! I said to the bishop then, “but shouldn’t we just do what is right and let the chips fall where they may?” I don’t think I received an answer.

With any large company or government or institution, the bottom line will always be the bottom line, and so the church can’t take the risk of allowing people to worship for the same reason we can’t take the risk of being honest about our history.

We cannot open the way for scores of litigants to come forward and say “my grandma would still be alive if you had only closed the doors of the church”. No! We must do whatever is necessary – close the doors, stop people singing, talking, embracing, deny the faith if we have to… just protect the bottom line!

There are alternate paths out of this mess.

For our leaders, we need them to be guided by love rather than by fear. As the Apostle John said, “perfect love casts out all fear”. (1 John 4:18), If love is too much to ask for, just a basic respect for human dignity will do.

For the rest of us, we need to be willing to take personal responsibility for our own health and leave the government to focus on their real job – protecting our freedoms!

Trollbeads 2008 – A Year in Review

Trollbeads 2008 – A report

Trollbeads hits the mainstream with steam and keeps on growing!

Trollbeads is a line of interchangeable jewelry hailing from Denmark. Their long 30 plus years of development and design has positioned them to be the next best selling collectable and interchangeable bead and accompanying jewelry line on the market. Their history in the United States is only about 6 years long and it’s been an exciting and interesting path for Trollbeads U.S. and it’s just the beginning.

Morten Petersen, who was originally from Denmark and the head of Lund Trading Inc., a distributing company he founded in Maryland, brought this line over from Denmark to distribute in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. At first the line was slow to grow here. Perhaps it was the representatives bringing it to market, or the market they were aiming for or maybe American women just weren’t ready for them. Each year the product was introduced to new venues and to new areas of the country and their growth became steady. Each year and with each growth level, the office at Lund Distributors was fine tuning its procedures to a more efficient level. A business that has steadily plodded its course, has just in the last year and a half, exploded on the American jewelry scene. Just recently the news is that November ’08, a month where everyone was debating on bailouts and relief packages or watching as houses were auctioned off, Trollbeads saw its highest single month increase ever. In the most recent issue of the jewelry trade magazine “In Store” Trollbeads was #2 on the list for the most exciting line retailers wanted to carry and Rolex was listed #6. It was my understanding that Lund has blown away 2007 sales figures but to excel in a month that for others was so bleak, points to one very obvious fact. The collecting of Trollbeads is recession proof. It’s the small things that count when times are difficult and these beads have a humorous side and a highly spiritual side. What better combination could there be in times like these?

For the most part Trollbeads collectors are unique from other bead collectors and are comprised of many kinds of people. If you compare the two major bead lines and compare their collectors, you will find that Trollbeads attract a more sophisticated customer than Pandora or Chamelia brands. The inspiration for the designs in Trollbeads comes from flora and fauna, mythology, spirituality, fairy tales and cultural diversity. The motto for Trollbeads is “Every Story has a Bead”. The Trollbeads artists strive to create small intricate sculptures and the beauty or uniqueness is evident in every bead. This differs sharply from the other bead lines as it where it was the first interchangeable bead line on the market in Europe and was the inspiration of many since.

This next year will be an interesting one to follow with Trollbeads. I believe it will be another record breaker but keep in mind the competition has taken its gloves off. Pandora has given all of its retailers an ultimatum. Starting immediately, they must drop any and all competing brands of beads or be dropped by Pandora. I know of some stores that have had to keep Pandora, because it’s a broader line and they sell more dollar wise and have had to, very reluctantly, drop Trollbeads. As a dealer of Trollbeads I can tell already, from my point of view, this was a bad decision for Pandora. Even before the deadline occurred many customers entering my store were aware of the situation and had very negative feelings toward Pandora. Today the consumer is savvy and educated and they do their homework on anything of value they are considering to buy. When a company is purchased by a large conglomerate, as Pandora has been, the focus is only on the numbers and nothing else. There is no concern for what this ultimatum will mean to many of its stores. I know for a fact that if a store has carried both lines, they have done well with both lines. They support the sales of each other because many people collect both lines. Small retailers forced into dropping a line, such as Trollbeads, means cutting their revenue by a huge portion. In this economy it may be devastating to small retailers. Read the news, it’s the large conglomerates that are bringing this country to its knees. Small businesses employ more people in this country and through no fault of their own, will be brought down by also.

It doesn’t take long to discover the differences in both of the company’s artistic and technical standards. It also doesn’t take long to understand the differences in management. I hear day after day, “My wife used to collect the other beads and now she is switching to Trollbeads.” Just yesterday I helped a couple of customers who also had Pandora beads, talk about Pandora and how difficult it is for stores to deal with the demands Pandora puts on the stores. Dealers who are holding on to their Pandora accounts are angry at the demands Pandora is making on them. Pandora is turning itself into the “bad guy” and should be worrying more about its image and less about the numbers and less about trying to be the only “like” brand in the store. Haven’t they ever heard that competition is a good thing?

Keeping in mind Pandora has forced a number of retailers to drop Trollbeads, I still believe 2009 will be another record breaking year for Trollbeads. The negativity produced by Pandora will mean that Trollbeads will fare better in the long run.

PayGate: The Credit Card Processing Company of Choice For Many Nigerian Businesses

Nigeria, once a country that was unable to make internet purchases or sell products online due to credit processing companies being scarce, now has a booming internet sales business. PayGate has helped pave the road for on line credit card processing in not only Nigeria, but other areas of Africa as well. PayGate started small over a decade ago and today is a leader in the industry and the choice for many business owners when it comes to credit card processing needs.

PayGate

PayGate is considered by many to be the preferred credit card processing provider in Nigeria. They are noted for having top notch customer service and quality products. They hire only the best when it comes to IT workers and their systems are monitored around the clock so that businesses can feel confident in using them for their credit card processing provider.

PayGate Recognized by Leading Banks

In Nigeria and South Africa, PayGate leads the industry in on line credit card processing. The company, according to their website, has been accredited by all major South African Banks who recommend PayGate to their business customers.

PayGate Offers A Variety Of Services

PayGate offers customers a variety of services and according to their company website they offer the following products:

PayPoint – merchants can put through card payments or pay suppliers on the internet. This is a password protected ‘back office’ facility. It is ideal for call center use.
PayBatch – merchants can process multiple card payments in batches.
PayWeb – clients can sell products and services from their website.
PaySubs – recurring payments like subscriptions can be automatically programmed for processing.
PayBill – you can send out and get your invoices to customers paid by them with the simple click of a button.
XML-service– for technically literate clients who demand total control, this facility allows your development team to customize your interface to PayGate in any way you prefer.

Additional Features of PayGate

In addition to the basic service features, PayGate also offers customers the following when it comes to their products and services:

· Fast transaction speeds.

· Easy integration into your current billing system.

· Quick to set up and get running for your business.

· Payment from customers is simple and customers have multiple payment options.

· An on-line data base that is secure and accessible for your business 24/7. This allows you to easily access client payments.

· Multiple user functions. You can allow multiple employees access to your account. Additionally, you can restrict areas that you do not want them to have access to.

How To Establish And Operate A Small Business

INTRODUCTION

Business is an activity of making money through buying and selling or supplying of goods or services. The purpose of Business is to generate income through profit.

A small Business or small scales industry could be defined as a small firm or organization established for the purpose of carrying on some economic activities which could be manufacturing or production, trading or rendering services.

A business could be small or big in size, it all depends on the nature of business and capital seed involved.

Why Business? The gate way to additional income

To enjoy financial independent, a man or society must not depend on a single income, getting involved in extra enterprises can solve a lot of worried often created as a result of shortage of cash. Owing business is for those who want to be rich and successful. There are so many business you can embark upon and run well. However, if it’s going to be, it’s up to you. A business of yours is the lasting solution against the fear of unemployment retrenchment or lack of funds.

However, to survive in business, you need guts, generous dose of ambition and drive. You must have a strong reason that will keep your business alive.

TAKING THE FIRST STEP

In deciding what type of business to do there are range of ideas to choose from to know whether its along existing hobby, talent on a new idea, however, ensure that there is a market that needs your service of product. Also, you must be personally interested in the business (not just because of the gain you hear people makes from it)

THINK FIRST: If you want to start a business, business is about thinking-well those who can not think can not create, therefore, if it is business you want to go into, think first. First thing first Develop your business first before building your house (Proverbs 24:27)

Therefore, I recommend that you belt yourself with these three instructions:

(i) Think deeply about the business

(ii) Open your eyes to see opportunities

(iii) Have an open-ear to hear business advantages

(iv) Above all, pray to God for wisdom and Guidance

Orji Kalu, the chairman of Slok group of companies says: “A good business man must have nose for business the same way a journalist has nose for news. The entire world is a big marked waiting for anybody who knows the rules of the game.”

In deciding to establish a business. Find a need around you and fill it; there after, money will flow into your bank account. There are infinite business possibilities where you are but in order to have access to them. You must exercise wisdom.

Since business is about the production of goods and services. Geared towards meeting people need. For financial regard, it follows therefore, that your business line must depend largely on three principal factors (i) people (ii) Environment (iii)

Season 1

Business Environment and the people

Business environment is not the same. It differs from place to place, and from people to people. To succeed in business you must study your environment and the people well enough. (Their taste. Needs, Values, tradition and culture). Do not start a business until you have located the market.

i People

ii Environment

iii Season

Season: Some business is seasonal while some are for all seasons. You must identify the difference. For instance, starting your ice block business in the rainy season is a bad strategy.

Baker’s complain of low sales whenever the season of fresh corn sets in (it is advisable that you embark on the feasibility study of your choice-business and prepare a business plan of action. Identifying resources needed for your venture )

1 Knowledge is power. Do not start a business until you have acquired the right knowledge read management books and journals

2 Master the required skill and training before going into production or manufacturing of any product, what you don’t know well can’t be produced better. Attend seminars workshop and vocational training centers. If possible have a business coach or consultant.

3 Locate your business at the right place

4 Capital is needed for the survived of any business. Ensure that you have adequate money to finance your business.

The following are sources of capital for business:

(1) personal savings

(2) Friends and relatives

(3) Leasing option

(4) Leans from banks (SME loans)

(5) self-help option

(6) Partnership

(7) Brain equity

(8) Money from other Business

“Any enterprise built by wise planning becomes strong through common sense, and profit wonderfully by keeping a breast of facts” \proverb 24:3-4

Conclusion

Without missing words, you need a business of your own additional streams of income. However nothing happens without an ACTION. ACT NOW.

Let me leave you with the business secrets of DANGOTE

1 Manufacture something don’t just trade

2 Build a brand and don’t let it die

3 Sell cheap, give quality and don’t kill the competition

4 Start small, Rome was not built in a day

5 Have connection and pray for a big break

6 Believe that there is money to be made in every where

7 All work and less play makes Jacka rich man

8 Give back to those who make you

Internal Communication: 12 Essential Elements

There are 12 essential elements of a successful internal communications strategy:

1. Effective employee-directed communications must be led from the top

Effective communications require the active commitment and endorsement of senior managers. It is not enough simply to develop a ‘vision statement’ or formulate in general terms the values by which the company lives. Behaviour is what counts. Managers must be seen to behave in a manner that is consistent with the ethos they are promoting.

2. The essence of good communications is consistency

At all costs, avoid following fashion and tinkering. If you try to improve communications and then fail–because your messages are inconsistent or are ‘good news only’–things will not quietly settle back into the way they used to be. You will inevitably have created expectations, and may have to live with the consequences of having disappointed those expectations.

3. Successful employee communications owe as much to consistency, careful planning and attention to detail as they do to charisma or natural gifts

We might not all be another Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins or Bill Clinton. But even such communication ‘giants’ slip up if they fail to plan, fail to pay attention to detail and fail to project a consistent message.

4. Communication via the line manager is most effective

‘ Line Manager to employee’ communication is an opportunity for people to ask questions and check that they have understood the issues correctly. However, be aware that business urgency and reality may dictate the need, on many occasions, to inform employees directly rather than relying entirely on the cascade process. (Though managers will still need to answer people’s questions and listen to their views.)

5. Employee communications are not optional extras, they are part of business as usual and should be planned and budgeted for as such

An employee communications plan–key themes, targets, objectives and resources–provides a context in which to deliver initiatives that arise at short notice.

6. There must be integration between internal and external communications

There must be a fit between what you are telling your people and what you are telling your customers, shareholders and public. (By the same token, there must be a fit between what you are telling your people, and what the external media are telling them.)

7. Timing is critical

However clearly expressed and well-presented your message may be, if it arrives at the wrong time you might as well not have bothered. Old news is often worse than no news. Consequently, it is important to ensure that the channels you use can really deliver at the time you need them to.

8. Tone is important

Expressing overly-gushing enthusiasm about a technical change of little real significance to your staff or public at large is scarcely calculated to make people take your message to heart. If they don’t take that message to heart, why would they take the rest of what you say to their bosoms?

9. Never lose sight of the ‘what’s in it for me?’ factor

We are self-interested creatures. I may have invented the most amazing gadget ever, but unless I get you emotionally involved you are never likely to listen to my message about it. But if I can show you how my gadget will revolutionise your life, add dollars to your wallet, free up your time, fix your smelly feet, wash your car for you, stop your kids arguing with you, bring peace with your spouse, bring world peace…

10. Communication is a two-way process

Employee communications are NOT a one-way information dump. Capturing feedback is of critical importance, and if you are not seen to be listening and acting on what you are told, why should people bother telling you?

11. A single key theme or a couple of key themes is a means of giving coherence to a range of diverse employee communications initiatives

In recent years, the overriding theme of many corporate employee communications has been the impact on the business of competition, regulation and economic forces. Many messages and initiatives can therefore be evaluated according to the light they shed on one or more of these key themes.

12. Set your standards and stick to them

Determine which channels should be mandatory and which should be optional; establish quality standards for all channels and review these at least annually.

Forever Living Products Business Review – Can You Get Wealthy With This Aloe MLM?

If you’re checking out this review, chances are you’re looking for some information on Forever Living Products (FLP). In this simple third party review, I’ll go into some details that will help you make an educated decision about the company and opportunity. I’ll also talk about one of the most important things you need to think about if you’re serious about succeeding with Forever Living Products, should you decide to join.

First, let’s cover some details about the company itself. Forever Living Products is a debt-free company that sells various aloe-based products through a network marketing business model. The company was started in 1978 by CEO and founder Rex Maughan. Since then, the company has been documented in several magazines including Inc 500 magazine, Business Journal and Direct Selling News. While the company is based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Forever Living Products operates in over 140 countries and has offices in Japan, the UK, Mexico, Ireland, Vietnam, Scandinavia, Paraguay and Turkey. In addition, the corporate team is made up of seasoned leaders who collectively have over 300 years of experience in network marketing. It’s pretty to see that the company is extremely solid and positioned for future growth.

When it comes to their products, Forever Living Products markets various products made from aloe vera. Experts claim that aloe dates back to 2200 BC and has been used by the ancient civilizations of Egypt, India, Greece, Rome and China. Aloe vera is well known for soothing burns and skin irritations, but it’s also filled with hundreds of nutritional compounds that sustain the body.

Forever Living Products has created various products from aloe vera including aloe vera drinks that fortify the digestive system, weight management products, a complete line of aloe-based supplements, personal care products and a line of cosmetics. From a business perspective, it’s important to know that the products are exclusive and can’t be bought any where else. In addition, since the company controls the entire manufacturing process, they can maintain quality control.

Now, let’s go over the business opportunity. To become a distributor, you’ll have to pay an initial start-up (which mostly pays for your first order of products), and then maintain an autoship order every month thereafter. The compensation plan pays out several ways including retail profits, personal bonuses (similar to rebates), group bonuses, a luxury car bonus and an annual profit sharing bonus. Overall, the company provides the opportunity to make upfront income and long-term residual income, which is great news for distributors.

In closing, Forever Living Products is a documented company with a solid business opportunity. They have a strong corporate team, great products and a generous compensation plan. With that said, it’s important for you to know that while you can certainly build a business by approaching your friends and family, you can significantly increase your chances of success by combining your offline efforts with generating leads online. With the economy spiraling downwards, there are millions of people on the internet that are looking for a network marketing company they can join. By positioning yourself in front of them, it’s not hard to see why it would be possible to generate 20-30+ leads a day for your business.

My suggestion is that you use a self branding attraction marketing system and learn the proper marketing techniques that will allow you to generate leads at will. If you can successfully do that, and partner with an experienced and documented leader, you can very well be on your way to building a solid business for yourself and your family.

Owning Your Very Own Disneyland Turnkey Website

Have you ever wanted to own your very own website but weren’t quite sure what one you wanted? This is very understandable, as there are so many different types of websites to choose from. When deciding what kind of website to buy, you will want to make sure that it has a niche that many people are interested in. You will also want to be sure that it is about something that you are interested in.

How does owning a Disneyland website sound to you? Everyone in the world loves Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, Goofy and the rest of the Disney characters that we have all grown up to love. It would be real difficult to find a person that is not familiar with Disneyland or Disney characters. That is why owning a Disneyland website will be a great choice for someone who is on the hunt to buy a website. When people are familiar with what is on the website, they tend to stay. What niche is there that is more popular than Disney!

Visitors to your website will include those who may thinking about visiting Disneyland or Disney World, people who are looking to purchase some of the latest Disney merchandise, or people who are just looking to learn about some of the current Disney news and events. Tourist and Disney enthusiast will love the fact that they can visit a website that is focused on just what they love – Disney!

If you are a person who currently owns other websites, owning this Disney website will positively add to your current website ownership portfolio. For those who are just looking to break into website ownership, there could be no other better website niche to start with than Disney. No matter what type of business or line of work you are in, adding that you are the owner of a popular Disneyland website will surely benefit you. It will show your colleagues and others that you do business with that you are professional about your work and care about keeping a professional image.

You will also be able to make a little extra money from your new website. You can add popular pay-per-click ads on your site, as well as affiliate ads, you will be able to earn as much as your marketing efforts and strategies take you. There are many website owners who make a living from pay-per-click ads and affiliate ads. Others earn extra money to supplement their current income.

HR Outsourcing: A Start-Up Silver Bullet

If you are considering a start-up, you may want to avoid the hassles, headaches, and burdens involved in building out your HR infrastructure.

The big guys are doing it!

As recently as the early 90’s HR outsourcing was a very small, emerging option that was met with skepticism by big business (over a billion in revenue). These early outsourcing companies did not have the tools, paths or resources to meet the demands of their early adopter clients but with the vast improvements of the internet and workflow processes, by the early 2000’s outsourced HR had become a 165 billion industry.

Not only did it grow but it grew very well in regard to retention. An Accenture study in the mid-2000’s had shown that over 80% of companies that chose to outsource HR functions were happy at the management level as well as the employee level. During this period, the Shell Oil Corporation was able to reduce HR infrastructure and overall HR costs by 40% while improving benefits and employee retention.

Great, it works for the big guys, what about the start-up?

With this in mind, anyone considering a business start-up can be free to remain focused on the business they are developing verse trying how to meet compliance, policy issues, and finding all the right tools to track all employee needs. This cumbersome task is time-consuming as well as costly.

With a little research and due diligence, a start-up can identify cost effective solutions that are now plug-n-play and will be developing a partnership with their provider. Many of the options in today’s market place are well suited to grow as the underlying start-up grows.

Any glance at today’s startup world shows the great need to get HR correct from the start instead of the mad scramble that seems to be in the news on a weekly basis as companies fail in this most critical issue in running a business.

Cash is king!

As a start-up, keeping cash as long as possible is always important. What many new businesses fail to see is that high-cost investments into HR infrastructure have no R.O.I., these costs can be avoided by tapping into the outsourcing company. Yes, there remains a cost but is spread out over each new hire.

Two other cost saving benefits that many are not aware of in today’s market are, pay as you go worker’s compensation and payroll funding. Each of these silver bullets can be a cash saving life line for any new business.

With proper vetting, all these great tools can be a part of any start-up who chooses to outsource their HR infrastructure.