Monthly Archives: March 2015
The Benefits of Using Plantation Shutters
Plantation shutters evoke the charm and grace of a bygone era. As the name suggests, they are most famously associated with old plantation homes in the United States. The basic design for plantation shutters are slats of wood in a solid frame that can be flipped open to let in air and light. You can also firmly close the slats to keep out rain.
Here are some reasons why plantation shutters are the ideal window treatment:
Looks good
Plantation shutters come in a wide range of finishes and sizes. Wood is a popular material for this. It can be painted or stained, and you can choose to paint each side with different colours for contrast. This makes your home look good inside and out.
Feels airy yet private
You can adjust the opening of plantation shutters to let air in and still keep the inside of your home out of sight. You get the benefit of good ventilation without giving up your privacy. Unlike blinds which can rattle with the flow of the air, plantation shutters keep still.
Cleans easily
As the slats are broad enough, you can just wipe them clean. All you need is a damp cloth to wipe over the surfaces–perfect for busy people in cities like Perth. Plantation shutters also do not require the use of special tools and cleaning equipment as other window treatments do. You won’t even have to take them down for cleaning.
Safe for children
Plantation shutters have no cords that may tempt little children into tugging or pulling them. This is a common problem with curtains. Children may play with the shutters by opening and closing the slats, but there wouldn’t be any danger of curtain rods or drapes falling on them. Overall, plantation shutters are child-friendly.
Saves energy
Plantation shutters can help you reduce energy consumption by keeping the heat out when it is hot and in when it is cold. You can also manipulate the shutters to let in as much natural light as you wish, saving you electricity.
With these and other benefits, it makes perfect sense to use plantation shutters in your home. Remember to contact qualified suppliers in your area to know the best shutter styles for your home.
Choosing the Right Dental Insurance Provider
Fixing your patients’ teeth is half the battle when it comes to being a dentist. If you have your own dental practice, getting insurance from the right provider is something that does not usually cross your mind. Knowledge of dental insurance from providers is important to ensure the growth of your business.
Below are steps to guide you through this process:
Know what is in store for your patients
HMOs are slowly becoming pricier, and this why many consumers instead choose preferred provider organizations. PPOs offer little to no costs for operations, reduced wait times, and an idea of the cost of their operations in advance. Depending on the provider, patients get discounts when they go to a specific practitioner. Additionally, they are not restricted to the network, although they charge extra fees.
Know what is in store for you
The benefits of signing up with a preferred provider organization are more than simply being part of a network of dental practitioners. As its name suggests, your office will be a ‘preferred’ provider, meaning that you will be among the first recommendations when someone needs to have their teeth checked. This ensures security and revenue for your dental office while allowing you to provide treatments without worrying about the payment.
Negotiate!
Finding the right providers requires time and effort that you may not have, as this involves a lot of research and negotiation. Fortunately, some organizations can help you in your search for the right PPO. Organizations like Everest Advocates can negotiate on your behalf to find the right insurance that will benefit both you and your patients.
Whether you are just starting out or you are a seasoned dentist, knowing what you can get from insurance providers is crucial for the success of your practice. This is also relevant to the service you give to your patients.
It is all about the Numbers: The Role of Business Accountants
Running a business, or even managing your personal finances, can be full of pitfalls. Even if you get good accounting software, you still have to put in the numbers. There are many things you will forget, or take for granted, that can get you into trouble.
Business accountants can make financial management a breeze. In fact, one of the first things you have to include in starting a business is finding a good accountant.
This article will guide you in that endeavour.
The Role of Business Accountants
According to Marin Accountants, business accountants know what needs to be included in the books. In business, this may be invoices, sales slips, refunds, purchase orders, accounts receivables, and inventory. For personal use, you would still need to give the same documents. You will know what your financial position is at all times. Accountants can also give advice on investments.
The accountant will ask you for what they need so you will not have to think. This is an invaluable service when tax season comes around, more so if your tax situation is complicated. They know the laws that deal with business, taxes, and securities, and how such laws differ from state to state.
Choosing a Business Accountant
There are many accountants in Melbourne. However, not all of them will be the right fit for you. When choosing an accountant, ask about their specialisation, qualifications, registration, and fees. An accountant should provide good customer service. Otherwise, you may have problems in getting what you need and communicating your concerns.
Business accountants are professionals. As such, you should take time to find out if they have a good reputation. You can do this by searching online or asking for references. Better yet, choose an accountant from any of the accredited professional organisations such as the Institute of Public Accountants.
The Show Must Go On: Getting Back to Work after Losing Someone
Losing someone you love will undoubtedly take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. You don’t know what to feel anymore, and it’s difficult for you to get back into the swing of things. Chances are you wouldn’t know if you should go back to work or give yourself some more time—or just not work at all.
Guess what? You’re not the only one. There are thousands of people all over the world also debating whether it is right to go back to work after losing their loved ones or not. Bear in mind, however, that the bills will need to be paid and food will need to be put on the table.
So what do you do?
Take Your Time
Don’t ignore and forget what happened. Allow yourself some time to grieve your loss.
Most companies provide bereavement leaves as respect for mourners. If your company does not have such a policy, inquire with your state’s labor department to know what bereavement rights you’re entitled to. If all else fails, use any sickness or vacation leaves if they are available.
Don’t Expect Other People to Share Your
This may seem a bit harsh, but never expect your boss or your co-workers to share the pain with you—no matter how close you are to them. Although most of them might express their sympathy and will be willing to lend an ear, they’re dealing with their own issues in life, too.
If you need someone to talk to, someone who can fully understand you, consider talking to those who share your grief. Lindquist Mortuary and other organizations say support groups are an excellent outlet.
Gradually Transition Back to Work
Expect the barrage of “Are you okay?” and “I’m sorry for your loss” on your first day back at work. This alone can actually make you feel lonelier, and it will be difficult for you to actually do your job, so try to make arrangements with your employer to take half the day off. Ask for time to talk to your co-workers, too. Make the transition gradual and don’t expect to get back to the grind overnight.
Grieving is a full-time job, and working two jobs all at once is difficult. Give yourself time, let go, and move on (but never forget).
For Dentists: 3 Ways to Manage Your Dental Appointments
Every patient expects to be given priority when they make an appointment, especially in the dental setting. As a dentist, you need to manage every appointment to avoid overlapping schedules that can disappoint patients. To make sure that this won’t happen in your dental clinic, here are some efficient ways you can try:
Use Mobile Applications
Many people today prefer using their mobile phones than opening their desktops or laptops. Google statistics show that 95% of smartphone users have used the Internet to search for local information. About 61% of them called a business afterwards, while 59% visited their location.
Developing a mobile app for you and your patients is beneficial. From negotiating dental insurance fees to scheduling appointments and meetings, this can make the appointment process easier. You’ll reduce the workload by having an app that shows your calendar. As such, patients will know if you’re fully booked or not. This helps you avoid mistakes, like accepting patients for the same schedule.
Use a Digital Calendar
If you often use a computer in your dental clinic, then installing work management software might be a good idea. Look for software that has a detailed yet easy-to-understand interface, so you won’t be more confused. Additional features, such as alarms and pop-up notifications, are also beneficial to keep in touch with patients and avoid forgetting specific information about their appointment.
Use a Daily or Weekly Planner
A manual log of dental appointments may seem outdated, but it’s still useful. After all, you won’t need any source of power to read the contents of your planner. You can review it anytime and anywhere. Make sure to have a backup, though. There’s a possibility of losing your planner when you’re always carrying it wherever you go.
Don’t let patients think that you’re unprofessional. Whether you prefer a digital or manual method, the most important thing is to make sure that you won’t forget any appointment.
Are You Getting the Right Price for Your Jewelry?
Sometimes, there is no other recourse than to sell your jewelry. When this happens, you need to know that you’re being offered the right price for your item, if not the best. If you have an impressive collection of jewelry or Rolex watches, you can use them to keep yourself afloat during financially trying times. What are some of the things you need to consider when selling your jewelry?
The Right Time to Sell
Like stocks and other products, jewelry prices fluctuate depending on the market. If there is an increase in demand for these goods within international markets like India or China, then you can expect your valuables to fetch high rates. Ask around and do your research regarding the current demand for your gold necklace or Rolex. This will help you time when to sell.
Go to an Appraiser
You need to verify the authenticity of your jewelry, especially if it’s an heirloom. You don’t want to put expectations on the monetary value of a ring or bracelet only to find out that it’s not genuine at all. Knowing what you have can also give you a ballpark of what to expect when selling it to pawnshops.
Choose Your Client
Do you want the best price, or do you want the fastest sale? Sometimes, it boils down to one or the other. Your item can fetch a better price, but require a long period of weight, or you can get money now and take a pay cut. It depends on the urgency of your situation. You can get a better price if you time your sale well and there is no dire need for the money you stand to earn.
When you need to sell something as precious as a diamond ring or a Rolex watch, you need to know that you’re getting the fair amount available on the market. Find a jeweler that will pay you what you are owed instead of selling your valuables to the first pawnshop you encounter.
Entertainment and Convenience: Things to Consider When Buying Home Appliances
Buying a household appliance is a big deal because you have to make sure that it will stand the test of time. Don’t just purchase something just because it looks good or on sale. You have to make a thorough assessment of its quality, specifications, and features. Unlike a lamp, accessory, or food, you can’t take a major appliance back that easily. Here are some tips to keep in mind before making that purchase.
Learn From Others
As brutal as it may sound, others will have to suffer so you don’t have to. It’s vital to talk to your friends first and express your desire to buy a certain appliance. They might have recommendations or precautions about certain brands, models, or appliance store. Don’t forget to ask which features they enjoy most, and make sure you purchase something that also have those.
Don’t Trust Your Impulse
Being a responsible appliance shopper will make you get the best unit for you. Don’t trust your impulse when in an appliance showroom. How? Make sure you have a list of priority features ready before shopping for appliances from ninostrading.com or other companies. Set a price range that you have to stick to. You can even ask a level head friend to accompany you. This way, your purchase will be worth every penny.
Know if Add-Ons are a Must
Some major appliances can be terribly needy of add-ons. For example, cooktops that produce extraordinary volumes of smoke and steam require capable exhaust fans. The bad thing is you might not have the budget for it. That’s why it’s best to ask the personnel about your appliance of choice. Look for a unit that can standalone to make the most out of your purchase.
There are a lot more things to keep in mind when buying appliances. Make sure you look into them before going to any establishment to shop.
Maximising Your Local Exposure with OOH Advertising
When it comes to advertising, small businesses do not have to aim for an extensive audience reach. Their main objective should be to focus all creative and financial resources on making an impact on the local scene and concentrate there.
While using the Internet as a medium reaches more people, the viewing scope is much broader, and thus, less centralised.
For small businesses, there is no need for globally expansive promotions. You just have to know your target market and the most strategic way to reach them. One way to do that is outside advertising.
OOH (Out-of-Home) Advertising
Outdoor Advertising works around the principle of out-of-home advertising. It is also known as reaching consumers in public places and commercial locations through various formats, such as posters, signs, banners, digital screens and billboards.
One of the benefits of this kind of platform is it provides 24-hour exposure of your brand to the public. Unlike the ads on the internet, which people can exit from, outdoor advertisements are consistently mounted in the most visible and busiest locations of the city.
Their common placements are along highways, main roads, buses, and shopping centres. Containing your marketing messages, they turn heads and sustain attention.
Words from the Experts
The majority of people will naturally focus on an outdoor advertisement, cites Route2take.co.uk, an outdoor advertising agency in Hale.
They list down several factors how outdoor advertising effectively maximises your local exposure, like how the creativity of the outdoor advertisements take away boredom and are suited best for the audience’s short attention span.
“Outdoor advertising has the unique feature of targeted location,” the agency says. Small businesses can use outdoor signs, billboards and banners, as an extension of their shops.
Outdoor advertising can effectively raise awareness of your services to your target market, and in turn maximise your exposure and visibility. And given that you are a small business, this kind of intensive advertising is what your company needs.
Ageing Beautifully: The Singaporean Route to Defying Age
Singapore is one of the fastest aging populations in Asia, with more than 2.1 million Singaporeans now over the age of 45 and a still expanding grey statistics. This, perhaps, made Singaporean women top the survey of the biggest spender in beauty products and services in the region,consuming about $200 a month. Hong Kong women made it second while the Chinese were third place.
Who would not want to look young forever? You, among others, will definitely want to defy age. Here are a few tips you can do without cutting much out of your pocket:
• Nothing beats an 8-hour sleep.
Sleep for eight or more hours is prescribed at every age. A good sleep can make you look younger. It is the most powerful rejuvenating treatment. Lack of sleep affects the flow of nutrients to the skin and scalp and makes the skin and hair look dull.
• Kickstart your day with a fruit or vegetable and a glass of water.
The antioxidants in fruits and veggies will revitalize your skin. Include these in your healthy diet—in fact, make these the highlight of every meal.
• Preserve your collagen.
Our body cells produce collagen that holds our skin together. Nutraceutical Ingredients lists this as one protein that makes our skin firm and elastic. There are a number of ways to keep it for youthful skin. Increasing your intake of Vitamin C, quitting smoking, staying safe from the sun are just a few.
• Exfoliate.
Kate Somerville, Hollywood’s most sought-after skin guru, advises to exfoliate to help speed up the natural process of skin renewal.
Care for your skin and look young despite your age. As HAA! says, “regardless of age, one’s mind and body can be as young and ‘evergreen’ as they wish it to be, provided one prepares for it.”
The Best Woods: Birch and Oak
Birch and Oak are among the most well-known tree species in the world thanks to their durability, versatility, and the fact that they are the namesakes of the first two professors in the Pokémon games. Their reputation as material staples in the home is well earned, as few other woods can surpass or even match them in terms of availability and performance. Companies such as joineryforallseasons.co.uk depend on both hardwoods for windows, doors, and other projects. In order to understand why designers favour these trees so much for their products, it is important to know the benefits each material brings to the table.
Thin but Hardy
Birch has a bit of a dual personality because of its natural toughness and slight elasticity. These two seemingly opposing properties allow users to perform a variety of advanced techniques that would destroy other wood species. These techniques include planning complicated moulding profiles, raised skirting, as well as turning and profiling. The popular wood also gets a lot of its favour from the ease with which people can put it together to create their fixtures. Birch is one of the easiest materials to glue, polish, finish, and put under impregnation; carvers can also use high temperatures to quickly dry varnish on Birch fixtures without worrying about cracks and blisters.
Pillar of Strength
Oak on the other hand, is famous for how easy it is to grow and work with, but this wood only works if the user knows which type they are working with. The straight-grained oak for example, is much easier to cut, while the faster growing knotty oaks are more suitable for jobs that require bending. Oak has long been popular because the polished product gives a room an air of refinement that not many other woods can replicate. This is why Oakwood is an automatic choice for banks, hotels, and other similar institutions that want to get a bit more status.
