Outside cushions

Due to the resilient nature of the job it has to do, outdoor furniture is not always as comfy as we would like. Sitting for long periods on materials that are pretty much indestructible, may take its toll on your backside. However outdoor patio furniture, be it made from wicker, teak, metal or plastic, is an expensive investment, and so manufactures, at least good ones make the furniture to last. The solution to making this furniture comfortable and stylish, is to add the right outside cushions.

Buying the right outdoor furniture cushions is very important, not only has the style got to fit your eye, but you need to be mindful of practical issues, such as will the cushions be left outside at the mercy of the weather, or will your really put them away at the end of use? Buy the wrong outside cushions for your chairs or chaise lounges, and you will soon grow tired of them. So let's see if we can help you get this decision right...

First consideration goes to the colors and patterns you may consider, ideally your outside leaving area may draw from themes you may have indoors, alternately you maybe looking to create an outside oasis of your dreams, either way note down colors, styles and themes that interest you. There are many retailers of outdoor furniture cushions, and the vast selection may become mind blowing. I would suggest looking through decor magazines or ideally the Internet, where you will able to browse through all the variations and compare prices at the same time.

There can be a vast difference in price between outside cushions, the main reason for these differences is the level of hardiness the outdoor cushion, pillow or pad may possess. If you opt for cushions made from marine grade fabrics designed to handle the hardships of a sea faring life, you'll pay a lot more than for a cotton cushion designed for use in perfect weather and lucky enough to be stored in a dry airy storage area.

If your climate is warm and wet, you know your battle is with mold and mildew, If you have to endure blistering sun you will need cushions with UV protection. No fear though as there are now cushions designed and manufactured that seem near indestructible, and are guaranteed accordingly! I would again suggest a little homework on the web to discover the level of protection you will need manufactured into your perfect outdoor cushions, pillows and pads. I also believe that buying the cheapest cushion will become a false economy, and would suggest getting the best quality outside cushions your budget will allow.

Should you cushions encounter any spillage, clean immediately before the stain can lock in, gently rubbing with soap and water, will deal with most stains, you can use commercial stain remover, if the stain is more oil based, but adhere to the manufactures instruction, as if the cleaning agent is too strong it may damage the cushions finish or treatment.

Though we have talked about some of these modern outdoor furniture cushions being near impervious to extreme weather, if you can your cushions will thank you for be stored when not used, and if they could ask for a dry airy environment, they'll gratefully serve you for many, many years.

Well I wish you all the best for your replacement outdoor cushions hunting project, and that you enjoy your outside space as much as I do, do take the time for a little research on the web if you can, the vast amount of choice, and competition for our money, is reducing prices substantially, and there are subsequently some fantastic bargains to be found

Peeling fingernails

I work in the nail industry and I am amazed at just how many people still believe the wive's tale that eating jello or gelatin will help them improve their fingernails. Every self-help website on the internet has people giving advice to take vitamin E or gelatin. I am here to remind people that don't know yet, that buying an oral supplement to help your fingernails is a complete waste of time and money.

WASTED MONEY SPENT ON ORAL NAIL SUPPLEMENTS

It is generally accepted that unless you are malnourished, no supplement will help you grow stronger nails. Dry, brittle, cracking and peeling fingernails are in most cases caused by environmental factors. Fixing the problem is usually simple, straight forward and relatively inexpensive.

THREE BIGGEST FACTORS EFFECTING NAIL HEALTH

Three of the biggest factors that effect the health of the fingernail (excluding injury and fungus) are water, the weather and efforts to make them look prettier (polish / fake acrylics). These factors act to strip the lipids out from the protective coating. This "dries" the fingernail out and makes it brittle or susceptible to peeling. I will briefly explain each factor and then tell you how to get the best bang for you nail care efforts.

Water: Health care professionals or teachers or anyone that washes their hands many times a day are giving their nails a beating. Nails in water strips out the lipids and raises heck with its protective barrier.

Weather: Living in a harsh, dry, cold (or hot) climate also dries out the nail and hurts the nail's protective coating.

Nail Polish and Fake Nails: Excessive use of nail polish doesn't give you nail a chance to "breathe". The frequent color changes and the harsh nail polish remover strips the nails. I won't waste a lot of time on what happens to your nails under the acrylics.

SIMPLEST, MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR NAILS

Use a lipid-rich, penetrating nail conditioner to remedy peeling fingernails.

Don't cheap out and buy some oil that will just sit on top of the nail. Spend a few extra dollars and get a formula that will penetrate into the nail and through its protective coating. If you don't, you are again wasting your time and effort. When you consider how long a small amount of nail conditioner actually lasts, the added cost is really insignificant.

An excellent penetrating nail conditioner is the simplest and best thing you can do to help strengthen and make your nails naturally gorgeous. It literally costs just pennies and takes only seconds a day.

Venture Capital Firms

While the terms and conditions of venture capital are not standardized, there are some salient features of venture capital arrangements. The venture capital firm is inclined to assume a high degree of risk in the expectation of earning a high rate of return. The venture capital firm, in addition to providing funds, takes an active interest in guiding the assisted firm. The financial burden for the assisted firm tends to be negligible in the first few years. The venture capital firm normally plans to liquidate its investment in the assisted firm after 3 to 5 years. Typically, the promoter of the assisted firm is given the first option to acquire the equity investment held by the venture capital firm.

Venture capital firms can raise funds from different sources. The important long-term sources of finance are issue of equity shares and preference shares, issue of debentures of different types, raising of term loans from financial institutions and generation of reserves. Venture capital firms may use different combinations of these sources by considering their relative cost and availability and their impact on the value of the firm. Accordingly, a company can have patterns of capital structure such as equity shares only, equity shares and preference shares, equity shares and debentures, equity shares and preference shares reserves, equity shares and preference shares debentures, equity shares and preference shares/debentures reserves.

The capital structure of venture capital firms is influenced by number of factors such as trading on equity, growth and stability of sales. Trading on equity means the use of long-term, fixed interest bearing sources of finance along with equity capital. Adopting trading on equity can increase the return on equity. However, this is possible only when the return on investment is more than the cost of finance.

Start Your Own International Trading Company

In an increasingly international world, a business that does not participate in international trade is going to be left behind. International trade can be extremely lucrative for any business that does it properly. Companies that do not conduct business internationally are tied down by the laws of one country, and cannot benefit from using less stringent regulations in one country to save money and cut down on costs. Conducting business internationally also allows your company to cut labor costs and access new, expanding markets that have a great demand for modern products and services. An international trade company can also take advantage of the expertise of many different nations. A company that wishes to produce industrial goods can use the vast factories and cheap labor of China and Southeast Asia to boost profit margins. International trading, however, does require expertise that many companies do not have.

Business consulting in the world of international trading is a must for any company that wishes to become an international trade company. A good consulting company can offer you translating services, cultural training, lawyers and so on, without which it is very difficult to practice business overseas. Trying to function in a foreign environment without experts can be damaging to the prestige of your company, so having business consulting for working overseas is a must for any business. Business consulting is not just useful for international businesses, though. Consulting can help with any variety of activities, from construction, human resources, technology or logistical. Consulting firms help your company deal with problems so you do not have to go through the long, cost-intensive process of hiring and training an expert. When problems come up, they often need to be fixed immediately, and this is one of the great benefits of your company using business consulting firms. These experts also can help you save money where possible, by applying their expert knowledge of a subject, and make more money in everything that your business does.

Financial services and financial planning are also extremely useful to any company, but especially one that wishes to operate internationally. Professional stock-brokers, analysts and financial lawyers can help shield your company from harmful lawsuits, and create additional revenue streams with sound investments in both domestic and foreign markets. For working in foreign markets, it is vital that you select a consulting firm that has expertise in financial planning and financial services overseas, and in the specific country or region that your company wants to work in. Good financial advice is useful for any business, not just those that work internationally. Financial services can provide your business with a way to get lower taxes, claim exemptions and make every dollar stretch further. Especially in tough economic times like this, the ability to save money anywhere possible is vital for the survival of a business. Financial planning experts can help your company set up sound investment and stock practices, help you perform cost benefit analysis on aspects of your company, and find the best ways to shave off unneeded expenses and increase your profit margins. Proper financial planning has only become more useful in the past few years with an unstable stock market and economy. This trend looks to continue far into the foreseeable future.

What is trade finance?

Are you selling goods or services to companies in other countries? Although expanding your company beyond your national borders is very exciting and profitable, it will also subject you to the payment habits of your foreign customers. Many times, customers can take as long as 60 days to pay for their goods. Although large export companies can wait that long to get paid, most small and medium sized businesses can't. This creates a cash flow problem.

Of course, you can always ask your customers to pay you immediately by bank wire as soon as the invoice is presented. However, few customers will abide by that request and you risk loosing business to the competition.

Going to the bank to get a business loan or bridge financing may help, if your business is established, can provide three years of financial statements and if your personal credit is stellar. But, what if you don't meet banking criteria? Or are a startup? Then you should consider trade finance. Trade financing enables you to finance your local and foreign sales and can provide the working capital that your company needs.

Accounts receivable factoring, a popular trade finance tool among exporters, allows you get paid for your export invoices in as little as two days. It eliminates the 60 day payment wait and enables you to get your paid immediately. This provides you with working capital to pay suppliers and employees.

Export factoring is relatively simple to use and integrates well with most companies. It works as follows:

1. You deliver the goods or services to your foreign client and send an invoice

2. You send a copy of the invoice to the factoring company

3. The factoring company advances you up to 85% of your invoice as a first installment

4. One your invoice is paid, the factoring company will rebate you the remaining 15% as a second installment, less their fee

No two factoring companies will price an opportunity the same way, however most factoring rates go from 1.5% to 3.0% per month. Rates vary based on the commercial credit quality of your clients, your industry and the amount of financing that you need.

As opposed to most trade finance solutions, factoring is easy to obtain and can be setup in a few days. This makes it an ideal solution for small and midsize companies.

Essential Documents for Every Project

During every phase of the project, initiation, planning, execution and closure there are the essential documents that need to be completed in order to ensure a project of high quality. These documents all support the project throughout it's life cycle and play a very important role in ensuring the success of the project.

Initiation Phase

Business Case - This will list your costs and benefits and will ensure everyone knows what the return on the investment will be.

Feasibility Study - Even before the actual project kick-off, you need to ensure that it is feasible to undertake the project, which is achieved by means of a feasibility study.

Project Charter - The project charter will document the project objectives, scope, team, high level timeframes and deliverables.

Planning Phase

Project Plan - This first document you must complete during the planning phase is a project plan. In this plan you will list all the phases, tasks and sub-tasks that need to be done to complete the project. Every task and sub-task must also be scheduled and included times, so that you know what needs to be done by when.

Resource Plan - Next will be your resource plan, which states what resources are required on the project, including financial, equipment and other material resources.

Quality Plan - In order to deliver a project of high quality, you must document every quality target against which your deliverables will be measured to ensure customer satisfaction.

Risk Plan - Risks are a part of every project, but if they are not documented, you will not manage them. To manage risks effectively, document the likelihood and impact of every possible risk, and also the mitigation against each risk. Assign persons responsible to every risk.

Communication Plan - This is very import to document, so as to ensure that you communicate effectively to every stakeholder at the right time, the right information.

Execution Phase

Change Management - You need to document every change on the project using a Change Form. This will allow for the proper prioritization and control of changes.

Risk Management - Ongoing risk management throughout the project must be documented on a Risk Form and Risk Log to allow for proper tracking.

Issue Management - An Issue Form and Issue Log will help to record issues as they arise and to add actions to resolve them effectively and quickly.

Time Management - Time sheets are very important in recording and managing every person's time on the project. These can then be used to update your project plan on an ongoing basis.

Cost Management - Financial management of the project is managed using Expense Forms and budget spreadsheets. Every expense must be recorded and approved to ensure that you track this against the original project budget.

Closure Phase

Closure Report: When a project comes to an end, it is important to document all actions and steps required to close the project. This must include the release or reassignment of people, equipment and materials, as well as any further phases or projects that may follow this project.

Post Implementation Review: After the project has been formally closed, you need to review the success of the project and document this. Remember to measure this actual deliverables and objectives against what was delivered and achieved and document any lesson learnt on the project for future reference.

Letters of credit

A letter of credit is a financial instrument used to secure payment to a specified party on production of specified documents that evidence the shipment of goods. Letters of credit are typically required by overseas suppliers in an attempt to mitigate some of the risks associated with trading on open account terms. Although they can also be used in trade within one company in some circumstances. The letter of credit also gives some element of reassurance to the buyer that they will not be payment for product that has not been shipped or does not meet the terms of their order.

The letter of credit is issued by a bank and will typically name the business that will be the beneficiary (typically the supplier), specify the documents that are required to be presented (see below), specify the sum to be paid and the expiry date of the letter of credit (often abbreviated to an LC).

The documents required by the LC are normally those required to evidence shipment of the goods and the quality and quantity of the product that has been shipped. Letters of credit are not only relevant to sea transportation, they can be equally be used for air and road transported goods.

Typically the LC may call for documents that evidence the packing of the goods, known as a packing list. Multiple copies of documents may be required by the LC. Invoices are also typically required. The buyer may call for some form of inspection certification. This may be by an independent inspectorate such as a government department or it may be by the buyers overseas agent. The former may be required for the importation of the product e.g. compliance with safety standards and the latter can be required to give the buyer more assurance that the product is fit for purpose and of merchantable quality.

Next the LC is likely to call for documentation that evidences the shipment of the product. For sea freight this may be bills of lading. A bill of lading is a document issued by a shipping company evidencing the receipt of goods (normally in containers) onto a specified ship for onward transfer to a specified destination. For air freight, an airway bill is typically required, providing similar evidence of loading onto a plane. In the case of transport by road, documents evidencing road transportation will be requested.

The letter of credit could make request for other documents in addition to the above. The LC will confirm that on presentation of these documents to a bank, the specified sum will be paid.
Despite the added security of trading by letter of credit there are still some risks to the supplier if funds are not available from the issuing bank to clear the LC. Therefore, in some cases the seller may ask for the letter of credit to be confirmed by a local bank. In confirming a letter of credit, the local bank undertakes to pay the LC and takes on the financial risk.

Letters of credit can therefore be useful to the buyer and the seller but the buyer will need to either provide funds to their bank or have a facility in order to open a letter of credit to their supplier. This can create an issue for the buyer. This can be addressed in a number of ways. Firstly, if the buyers credit standing is good they may quality for a revolving facility which can be used to open letters of credit to their suppliers. If the buyers credit history is not so strong they may be able to use a factoring facility, combined with a trade finance facility to secure the transaction. In the case of factoring, the factoring company will factor the ultimate debts to the buyers debtors and the funds released from these sales invoices are used to liquidate the liability incurred from the letter of credit.

Similar to a letter of credit is a documentary collection. With this form of payment, a local bank will be instructed to pay the buyer of production of specified documents in much the same way as a letter of credit. However, the sellers security is reduced as the exact requirements are not set out and agreed in a financial instrument as is the case with a letter of credit.

Letters of credit, documentary collections, trade finance and factoring are complicated areas, especially when concerned with imports and exports. However, our advisers will be more than happy to assist you by finding you organizations that can open letter of credit for you and if necessary provide the trade finance and factoring facilities to support the opening of letters of credit to your suppliers. The cost of letter of credit, trade finance facilities depends very much upon your requirements and circumstances.

Trade Finance - Funding Imports and Exports

Trade finance assists in funding imports, exports and international trade .

One of the most difficult challenges in any business is managing success – it’s all very well securing that large order, but if you can’t fund the supply, especially if you’re buying or selling overseas, it can be a nightmare.

We understand that on one hand you may need to advance a supplier funds up-front, while on the other hand your customer will want to pay on credit terms.

We can structure international trade finance for importers where we fund the entire trade cycle as long as they have a confirmed order from a reputable customer. This is typically mixed with an invoice finance facility to provide a seamless finance facility that can allow you to take on large orders with confidence..

Trade cycle finance will allow you to trade with peace of mind and, at the same time, take the risk out of any concerns about customer credit-worthiness.

If you are exporting you may wish to consider an export invoice finance facility.

Private Project Financing

Since the banks have left many Project Financing options hanging, there are other options that have come available to companies looking for larger ticket financing.

There are finance groups out there that are interested in your venture and offer Project Financing. In general the sweet spot is $25 million and over, but if you have projects that are $5 million and over, there are sources.

Where does the money come from? Generally Private Corporations that manage hedge funds and the like that have found an opportunity that has been left by the banks since many banks are not funding these types of deals anymore.

The fees and rates to get private money like this will typically range from 6% to 9% interest, which is comparable to what the banks were charging when they were doing Project Financing.

What do they fund? In reality, any type of project that makes sense. Real Estate Developments, Alternative Fuel Projects, Acquisitions, Import/Export anything like this.

Requirements. In order to apply for Project Funding you need to have a well crafted Executive Summary to start. You need to demonstrate that you have the capability to see the project through. The Executive Summary must be both your resume as well as the analysis of the project to show how you will do it, step by step and also an exit strategy to show if things do not work out, how the lender funds will be secured.

If you have everything done ahead of time and all your information is complete then you can expect to close in as little as 45 days. After you have accepted the terms of the financing then the file goes to an exhaustive underwriting process to make sure everything is set up properly and the risks are minimized.

What do we mean by a vested interest? The Project Financing lenders must make sure that if things get difficult in the project, you are not going to walk away from it. This is done by you, the applicant having a significant financial interest in the project.

Vested interest in the project may come in the form of funds being held in escrow, down payment, equity, hold other valuables as collateral, this varies project by project.

If your venture is on hold, speak to a Commercial Finance Broker that is set up for Project Financing so you can get back on track.

Banking Instruments For Project Funding

Arriving at successful project financing is not an easily achieved task in today's banking environment. Companies have gone away from traditional institutional financing in search of other more reliable channels of funds. This is where the advent of using bank instruments as a direct source of creating capital for project finance has opened up.

While it is true that a financial instrument is used for credit enhancement such as in the complicated structured financing employing collateralized debt; bank instruments can be used in a much more simplified fashion to unleash the power of bank credit lines needed to complete project finance.

Most any bank instrument with cash backed value can be monetized to provide the necessary collateral and security a bank lender needs when making a loan. So long as the underlying assets of the instrument is indeed cash or cash equivalent, and the cash asset and the bank issuing the instrument is rated high enough to achieve comfort, many different types of financial instruments can be used for financing.

It is important to stay away from financial assets that are given value by complicated credit valuations with multiple tiers of debt securitization such as mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations, and securities and bonds backed by corporate debt and other over-valued assets outside of cash backed assets or cash equivalent assets. These types of instruments used in complex investment derivatives helped plunged the financial world into disarray over the last decade, a mess which will take another decade at least to recover from.

Cash backed assets, such as those in the form of bank guarantees, letters of credit, standby letters, certificates of deposit, cash collateral accounts, and other more easy to understand financial assets make financing simple and straight forward. When these types of instruments are used as primary or secondary collateral in connection with a viable project, bankers have an easier time making loans for project financing.

However, if you are not a tycoon big name client with multiple lines of credit and long-standing financial history with top-tier banks most companies and individuals can forget making an attempt to acquire loans of the great magnitude needed for major developments and projects. This is where financial partners with credible financial services companies become important to companies on Main Street.

While the ability to issue top-tier bank instruments as collateral for financing is a crucial piece of the financing process, this does not preclude the importance of ensuring you have solid relationships with lending institutions that can ensure the safekeeping and ultimate return of the bank instrument. This means one must be able to provide a solid bank undertaking, which strengthens the trust and confidence of the investors and asset holders involved to know the lending process will not put the instrument and their cash assets in jeopardy should a default occur.

If you feel you have everything it takes to get financing, but only lack the right cash-backed security and guarantees necessary, seek a competent financial services company to help complete the cycle with you.