Saturday, April 11, 2015

7 Things Business Owners Should Know About Pallet Racking

Source
Pallet racking can be used in a wide number of ways and is suitable for all sorts of business applications, not just warehousing. 

Of course, installing a pallet racking system means that your business operation can more seamlessly fit in with that of other businesses, both customers and suppliers, thus improving the efficiency of the supply chain. 

However, there are a number of things that business owners ought to know about pallet racking before making any significant investments.

1. Pallet Racking Is Not Just For Warehouses And Distribution Facilities


Although pallet racking is the most widely used system in the logistics industry, employed in the majority of the world's warehouses and distribution centres, it is also the dominant form of storage in many other sectors, too. 

Pallet racking is, for example, widely used in the retail sector nowadays, as well. Not only do palletised racking shelves mean that store operatives are able to locate the stock items they need with ease, but forklift operators are able to return goods to the distribution centre, if appropriate, or even easily organise stock movements between retail outlets, when necessary. 


2. Pallet Racking In Manufacturing


These days, pallet racking is widely used in manufacturing industries, as well. Most manufacturers know the importance of keeping their production lines operating without clutter of excessive parts and components. 

Business manufacturers can find a variety of pallet racking systems at Warehouse Storage Solutions, and choose the most suitable one to help them become more efficient by de-cluttering, and avoid any bottle necks in the supply chain. Tying money up in stock close to the production facility is not wanted either, so many manufacturers rely on their slick supply chain to keep items coming to their production facility just when they are needed, committing as little cash flow as possible to purchasing. 

Therefore, components need to hit the places where they are needed immediately on arrival and palletised racking is the only real way of achieving this simply.


3. Pallet Flow Systems


These pallet racks are used with small rollers in their trusses, allowing for pallets to be moved easily from one area to another by operatives. Sometimes set at a slight incline, they are used in tandem with work flow environments, such as distribution centres, where sorting or other work is going on in support of the company's needs.



4. Safe Handling of Products


Some people are put off the idea of pallet racking because they think that smaller items held on a pallet will get damaged too easily, especially when they are cheek-by-jowl with bulkier items that are more suited to pallets and forklift pick-ups. 

However, high-quality pallet wrapping products, from the likes of Davpack, for instance, mean that even smaller items are held securely on a pallet without the need for large and costly containers or tubs to stow them in. Even hand held items are perfectly suited to pallet racking given such wrapping products.



5. Increased Storage Space


In many cases, palletisation can create more storage simply by using the upper space available in a business unit. 

So long as less wanted items are stored on the higher racks and fast moving lines are held at eye level, there is no reason not to use racking right up to the ceiling in a safe way which is perfect for getting the best out of the floor space that you already have.


6. Maintenance Issues


Pallet racking is basically a maintenance-free solution to a business' storage needs. Once it is set up and put in place, then there is virtually nothing that is required to keep it in good working order. Most pallet racking systems are modular with uprights and trusses being sold separately. 

Therefore, if a section of pallet racking does become damaged, perhaps by a collision with a forklift truck, then the appropriate sections can be replaced, without the need for starting again from scratch.


7. Benefit of Adaptability


Even when used outside of a warehouse, pallet racking is wonderfully adaptable so it can change along with your business' needs. 

Pallet racking is able to improve the overall functionality of the workplace, whether it is for holding components, finished stock or storing heavy machinery. Outbound goods sections and goods-in functions can be adapted easily with high-capacity and heavy duty racking.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

What Your Small Business Needs to Keep Up With Competition

English: Findlay, Ohio, September 20, 2007 -- ...
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
With a high rate of failure within the first five years of business, it's important that business owners take the necessary steps to keep up with competition to survive. 

Successful businesses think outside the box and find ways to keep customers engaged and coming back. Focus on these basic strategies to help you survive, and thrive.

Use the Internet


Everybody is online, including most of your customers. Smart business owners make maximum use of the internet. Google Analytics tracks and analyzes your web traffic. Create your website in an afternoon with Wix if you need a time-saving solution for creating your site. 

You should also have social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest to find more customers and keep them engaged and update. If customers cannot find you on the internet, they may not find you at all.

Create an Advisory Board


Whatever your business and your knowledge, there's always someone that may know a little more and can help. Recruit some people with a variety of experience and ask them to serve on your advisory board. 

Meet virtually, so you are not limited to people in your area. Make the meetings substantive, and don't give board members an excuse not to participate. Listen to their advice. Get that talent and experience available even one hour per month, and you are a big step ahead. 

Know Your Competitors


You can’t get ahead of your competitors if you don’t know who they are. Identify your direct competitors, and predict every move they make. Don’t forget indirect competitors. Many small businesses have multiple lines of products and services. 

Follow them on social media and stay up-to-date on new things they are doing in the industry. This will help you to find ways to stand out amongst your competition. If you are exactly like another business, why would consumers chose you over them? By studying your competition, you can find ways to be more unique in the field. 

Know Your Customers


Talk to them, and ask what they like and need. Ask their opinion about your new products. Include survey links with online orders. Even negative feedback helps you make your business better. 

If you don't know what your customers like and dislike, you are losing out on their business. Aside from surveys, pay close attention to what they are saying on social media. Comments on your posts, pictures and videos can tell you a lot about how they feel about your company and products. 

Manage Your Cash


This seems pretty basic. Many business owners focus on profit. You can’t pay utilities and meet payroll with profit. If you can’t afford to stock what you need to make your business work, customers won’t take you seriously. 

You will need to make sure you have a supply of the basics such as credit card paper rolls, business cards, advertising leaflets and order forms. Without these simple items, your business can really suffer from missed opportunities and frustrated customers. 

Have a Higher Purpose


You’re in business to make money, but make your business more financial gains. Customers will pay a premium to support a good cause. Don’t do your good works in the dark. If you’re contributing 15% of sales every Wednesday to the Little League, tell your customers and the baseball fans. Don’t use a gimmick. Customers recognize that right away. Identify how your business can contribute to a cause you care about.

Making sure that you are doing the basics is only the first step to growing a successful business. Be sure to keep up with industry news and find ways to make your business more unique to stand out amongst competition.

Monday, April 6, 2015

7 Tips for Getting Hired After Age 50

It may be particularly imposing to locate a brand-new career in your 50s and 60s. The joblessness rate for older employees is less than that of young adult employees, but when unemployed, older employees appear to have a lot more problems landing a new job. 

The typical period of joblessness for job hunters age 50 and older was 45 weeks in November 2015. That's more than 6 months longer than the 32 weeks younger employees stay out of work, according to an AARP Public Policy Institute study of Bureau of Labor Statistics files. 

Right here are a few techniques to discover a brand-new job after age 50.


Begin your job hunt immediately. 


Do not wait until your unemployment ends to begin searching for a brand-new job. "It does look like possibilities are best for the out of work once they leave their occupations, so it may be a smart idea to begin job hunting in earnest right at the start, instead of easing into job hunting while on unemployment," states Joanna Russell, an assistant professor at Texas A&M University who researches age bias. 

A sizable hole on your resume and an increasing sense of annoyance with the job hunt process can make things much more challenging to get employed once again.


Work your network. 


Even though there are definitely numerous modern-day methods to locate jobs on-line and through social media sites, having contacts at the business you want to work for is still among the very best strategies to discover openings and get employed. 

"The No. 1 method to discover a job is through contacts," Russell states. "You can stay away from a great deal of implicit bias if somebody who knows you wants to vouch for you."


Assure a young boss. 


Some supervisors might feel awkward supervising somebody who is more seasoned than they are. 

"The important thing to remember is that the individual supervising you or making the hiring selection might well be younger than you are, and unsure about managing somebody with more experience," states Petrov Dimetrious, an administration professor and administrator of the Center for Human Resources at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School

"So it is essential to let them understand you are OK with the job you're applying for, that you do not want their job which you are expecting to take instructions from them."


Do not discuss your age or the job interviewer's age. 



You do not wish to call attention to your age by detailing jobs you held over 20 years ago on your resume or discussing your age in the course of the interview process. Equally as important, do not discuss the age of a younger boss. 

"Even when the individual interviewing you is no older than your kids, never ever make any reference to their age, thinly veiled or otherwise," states Joan Anderson, an occupation trainer and author of "Beginning Again: 50+ Tips to Win From Your Dreams in  Semi-Retirement." 

"Making apparently innocent remarks like, 'Did you like college?' might readily be misinterpreted as a contemptuous and unwelcome statement."


Minimize your resume. 


You do not have to incorporate every position you have ever held on your resume. "Do not make your resume a history lesson. Emphasize your latest accomplishments and the new skills you're getting," Anderson states. "In general, you ought to keep the light on the last 10 years of pertinent experience."


Discuss why you're not overqualified. 


Possessing 20 or 30 years of job expertise can make you appear overqualified for lots of jobs. "Make certain your cover letter discusses why you're ideal for the work you're applying to," Russell states. "Explain any gaps or why you're applying for something for which it looks like you're overqualified."



Show your facility with modern technology. 


More mature professionals are frequently viewed as being not able to efficiently make use of modern technology. Make it clear to prospective recruiters that you are tech-savvy and continuing to stay up to date with brand-new developments. 

"I believe the single greatest thing you should do to get rid of age bias is to show your comfort with modern technology and social media sites throughout the interview process," Anderson states. 

"There are lots of various methods to discreetly let prospective companies understand you're tech-friendly: Include your LinkedIn URL on your resume, point out a fascinating article you discovered on the company's Twitter feed or be a regular contributor to industry-related organizations on LinkedIn.

Monday, March 30, 2015

10 Tips to Get Mentally Ready to Retire

When Marty Stroud retired at 65, his retirement savings were not his biggest issue. In fact, he had enough to live comfortably. Marty’s problem was finding a new routine after having spent decades in an all-consuming 9-to-5 job. "I lost purpose. Gardening may have saved my life”, he recalls of his first months of retirement.

Stroud is not alone. According to an Ameriprise Financial survey of retired baby boomers, some common concerns among retirees include:

  • Missing out on daily social interaction with colleagues (37%)
  • Getting used to new routines (32%)
  • Finding ways to give meaning and purpose to their days (22%)


Many retirees know that the change from a full-time job to a life with less structure and purpose can be challenging, especially emotionally.


10 TIPS TO GET MENTALLY READY TO RETIRE


1. CELEBRATE WITH A PARTY


You’ve celebrated every other milestone in your life – new home, new baby, birthdays, weddings and so on. Why not celebrate the milestone called "retirement"? It’s an achievement, especially if you’ve saved enough to live comfortably. You’ve earned it! Get great retirement party ideas on Pinterest.


2. REALIZE YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ANYWHERE


Gone are the days of waking up early, sitting in traffic and drinking bad cafeteria coffee. You’re now free to lounge in your pajamas and take your time with errands. You can finally focus on doing what you love, when you want to. 

Just remember that at some point, you may start to miss the structure, purpose and community a job provides. Our advice? Create a schedule sooner than later and try to get out of the house as much as possible.


3. ENJOY AGING GRACEFULLY


Do you want to be 18 again? Probably not. With age comes wisdom, self-realization and satisfaction. Enjoy your age at every age. Check out the Advanced Style blog for inspiration and proof "from the wise and silver-haired set that personal style advances with age".


4. EXERCISE AND STAY ACTIVE



Look forward to exercising – now you have the time! You have the flexibility to join classes and activities in the middle of the day when most people are at work. If you prefer walking, hiking or biking, get a friend to join you. A workout partner will help you stick to a schedule and make exercise a lot more enjoyable.


5. KEEP LEARNING


Learn something new, it will keep your mind sharp and add some structure to your day. Check out the City College in your town or Google "adult education" for free or affordable classes near you. There are also lots of online puzzles and games to keep your brain working.


6. SPEND MORE TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS


Retired or not, this is the #1 wish for most people. Who doesn’t want to spend more time with the people they love? You don’t have to be anywhere between 9am and 5pm on the weekdays, so make a trip to see your children and grandchildren. If you want to be even more involved, you can move closer to family and volunteer your time for babysitting duties.


7. ADOPT A DOG


Share your life with a dog in exchange for unconditional, tail-wagging love. Besides the emotional benefits, your canine friend will need regular walks that will keep you in good shape. Research shows that dog-owners also need fewer doctor visits, have lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and a lower risk of heart attack compared to those who don’t.


8. PLAN FOR THE FUTURE


Just because you’ve stopped working, it doesn’t mean you have to stop planning. With recent advancements in medicine, people are living well into their 90s. Set both personal and professional goals for yourself. Always wanted to run a marathon? Never visited the Grand Canyon? It’s never too late to get started. It’s also important to continue planning and adjusting your finances as you go.


9. LEAVE A LEGACY


What do you want to leave for your family, friends and the world? Research shows the happiest people are those who help others. This may be the time to think about giving back to your community. Leave a positive legacy by giving the gift of your time, knowledge, wisdom or money to local schools, community centers or charitable organizations that are close to your heart.


10. STOP OBSESSING ABOUT RETIREMENT


You’ve probably been anxious about retirement your entire adult life. Now that you’re there, stop worrying. Live for the moment and enjoy being the master of your own schedule.

In Stroud’s case, learning new things helped his transition into a new life. His daily ritual now includes making breakfast for the family and practicing yoga. "My time is filled with activities that inspire me and keep me healthy. I volunteer, paint, exercise and cook regularly," he gushes. “I love my new life!”

Even if retirement seems a long way off, you can start on some of these ideas to prepare for an easier transition. When it’s time to retire, embrace your newfound freedom and make the most of it. For more ideas and tips on how to make the most out of your retirement, emotionally and financially, visit aboutLife.com

1 Ameriprise Study: First Wave of Baby Boomers Say Health and Emotional Preparation are Keys to a Successful Retirement: http://newsroom.ameriprise.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1963


Author: Lidia Shong from aboutLife


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