POST CATEGORY : Economy & Environment

3 Financial Tools To Help You Get Your Start Up Off The Ground

Do you have an idea for a business? Reckon your product or service could fill a gap in the market? Always dreamed of being your own boss?

If you’ve answered yes to these three questions, then congratulations – you clearly have an entrepreneurial spirit! Now comes the hard part. More than half a million businesses launch across the country every month and you need all the help you can get if you’re going to stand out from the crowd and succeed – regardless of how good your idea is.

Business planning

The biggest thing to be aware of is money. If you don’t stay in control of this, then you’re never going to get anywhere.…

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Gardens: The Unsung Hero in Real Estate Valuations

Gardens, and landscaping in general, are often the most overlooked elements when it comes to adding value to a home.

How much value your gardening and landscaping choices can add is highly subjective to the market the property’s located in, but it’s worth noting that over ninety-percent of buyers rank garden design as something that definitely increases value, whereas the color of the paint inside the home is often of little concern by comparison.

Deck garden

The reality, when faced with insight from experts in the field like realtors and home-staging professionals, is that adding a garden will not only add to the overall value of the home, it can make the home sell much faster, too.…

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Down with Downtime: Best Practices for Proper IT Asset Tracking and Management

Effective asset tracking is crucial to building a more profitable organization. Investing in asset management software is a good first step, but there are also several strategies you can implement that will ensure a smooth implementation of your asset tracking system.

Asset tracking

From organizing your existing inventory to streamlining warehouse processes, the tips below will help you get the most value from your asset management solution.

Use an Automated Inventory Solution

Automated solutions for inventory management offer several advantages over manual systems, from shorter fulfillment cycles to reduced helpdesk operating costs. Switching from a manual process to an automated one also boosts employee productivity and allows you to track vendor data so you can take advantage of savings.…

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Create the Marketplace – Own the Marketplace

People want something unique and different, so don’t compete—create your own.

In a nutshell that’s the motto CEO and business founder Jeff Pedersen lives by, and what enabled him to start, and continue running, his successful business, Cariloha.

Jeff Pedersen, CEO/Founder Cariloha

Many of today’s current marketplaces are saturated. So if you don’t have the time and/or money to compete with well-known and well-funded brands, find a niche where you can create your own marketplace.

Pedersen recalls first starting his company in 2007 where they produced and sold island-leisure products. Unfortunately, sales were not anywhere close to what he and his executive team had projected they’d be at after opening their first three stores.…

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The Gig Economy isn’t Quite as Rock n’ Roll as You’d Think

The number of flexibly- and self-employed workers has increased significantly in recent decades. At the end of 2016, nearly five million UK workers were classified as self-employed, which marks a 45% rise since 2000. The gig economy covers all sectors; not just the likes of Uber drivers or Airbnb hosts, but a considerable amount of highly skilled workers, such as IT experts and computer programmers.

Freelance programmer

The gig economy gives workers an enviable opportunity to work flexibly and be selective about their jobs. But with this territory comes specific risks and challenges that go beyond worrying when your next paycheck will come in.…

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The Reasons Behind Sacramento’s Growing Population

In a recent report, which surveyed millennials living in the Bay Area regarding their future living preferences, nearly 75% stated they planned a move to Sacramento in the next five years.

Downtown Sacramento, California

California’s capital city has become a respite for the state’s younger generation as a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of other large metropolitan areas, and, more importantly, reduce their cost of living. Sacramento has tons to offer for its nearly 500,000 residents and occasional visitors both old and young, going above and beyond its small-town charm.

There are many things to do in Sacramento, including visiting the State Capitol, touring the California Railroad Museum, and exploring Old Sacramento.…

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Green Home Initiatives and Cutting Expenses: What to Know

One of the most popular recent trends in housing and real estate has been rise of energy-efficient homes. Home builders and buyers alike have started to consider implementing these “green initiatives” due to the environmental and financial benefits they hold.

Rooftop solar panel

Energy-efficient changes in the home have not only decreased the carbon footprint of the homes themselves, but also proven to save households a great deal of money on their monthly bills over the long run. As the popularity steadily increases, homeowners would be prudent to look into the ways these green homes save them money, and apply the most effective and efficient ideas for themselves.…

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Crossborder Ecommerce GMV Expected to Grow at 25 Percent Through 2020, per DHL

Online merchants positioned to sell internationally are poised to see considerable growth, according to a study just released by international express services provider DHL. Entitled “The 21st Century Spice Trade: A Guide to the Cross-Border E-Commerce Opportunity”, the report highlights significant growth opportunities for retailers and manufacturers with international ecommerce platforms.

Online shopping

Among the key findings of the report, cross-border ecommerce gross merchandise volume is expected to grow at the rate of 25 percent through 2020. This represents an increase from $300 billion in 2015 to $900 billion by 2020.

An expanding class of cross-border shoppers is driving this growth as they are increasingly being drawn to the ready attainability of products they can’t find on store shelves where they live.…

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How to Stand Out When Applying for a Job in Australia

Australia ranks high among the countries in the world when it comes to its resilience in the face of global crisis. Its beautiful natural landscapes, low pollution levels, low population, and eminent positions in quality-of-life rankings attract people overseas to come and make Australia their home. The country’s multicultural society also offers the kind of diversity that makes it easier for migrants to fit in.

Sydney, Australia busy street

But similar to many other countries in the world, finding a job in Australia can still be challenging for many individuals. Even with a low unemployment rate of 6% in 2015, Australia can sometimes be a difficult place for job-hunting because many applicants tend to lack the necessary occupational skills or because they are unable to produce evidence of applicable work experience.…

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A Quick Guide to Importing Goods into the United States

Whether you’re looking to leverage cheaper-made merchandise or diversify your product line, selling imported goods in the U.S. is a very lucrative business. Importing doesn’t necessarily mean you’re cannibalizing the economy. In fact, according to research from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, every $1 spent on an item that’s made in China puts 55 cents to U.S. businesses for marketing, sales, and related services.

Importing to the USA

If you are thinking of importing goods and selling it to the U.S. market, you’ll need to know more about the country of export as well as U.S. laws regarding importing. You also need to pick from among the reputable USA customs brokers.…

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