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
Tuesday 4 October 2011
Outside cushions
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.
Saturday 1 October 2011
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)