Archives for March 2022

Actionable Construction Tips Straight From The Pros

March 23, 2022 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

When construction goes well, it is one of the most satisfying feelings in the world. Once things come together, all the hard work and long weeks are worthwhile.

But, of course, things don’t always go to plan. All sorts of issues can crop up, from delays to poor communication and even wholesale failure to meet the client’s brief.

Therefore, in this post, we take a look at some of the methods that you can use to avoid many of the issues that plague projects and ensure that yours is a success.

Use BIM

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If you’re not using BIM solutions yet, you’re missing out. These allow you to:

Reduce construction cost overruns
Schedule workers, contractors and other stakeholders
Define the constructability of your projects
Map out your rework strategy
Model each phase of the construction process
See how each part of the construction fits together with all the others

What’s great about BIM is that it lets you identify issues and problems before they happen. In other words, you can quickly see whether there is going to be a clash or not before it happens.

Ensure That You Engineer Properly For Your Project

Failing to engineer at scale is another common issue that builders run into, particularly those working on large projects. Lack of water or land control can lead to significant headaches down the road.

If you have a lot of surface water run-off or want to maintain the integrity of steep banks, make sure that you put concrete erosion control mats in place. Always invest in the sewer system and ensure that it is large enough to handle the waste that goes through it. Ensure that landscaping can resist the effects of the wind and rain, and that roofing is suitable for the span that you are covering.

Put Disaster Mitigation Strategies Into Action

Whenever you work on a construction project, it is always best to hope for the best but plan for the worst. Whatever building you construct, you want to make sure that it is able to withstand disasters that might befall it.

The two most common are high winds and fire. Make sure that all the building elements are capable of dealing with storm winds and that you install relevant fire mitigation technology where it’s needed.

Protect Floor Slabs With A Moisture-Proof Membrane

Builders can sometimes lull themselves into a false sense of security, believing that water won’t rise up through the floor once they lay the concrete. However, that’s often wishful thinking.

Whenever you lay concrete, always put down a water-resistant membrane first, particularly if you are working in a high water table area. Make sure that you use class A vapor retarders and that the material has sufficient tensile strength to cope with the weight of the concrete above.

Assess Your Carbon Impact

Lastly, you’ll want to assess the carbon impact of your building. This way, you can check whether it meets current sustainability targets and whether you might have to adapt the design to adhere to local regulations.

Can Used Equipment Really Spell New Horizons For Your Business?

March 23, 2022 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

With new companies across industries increasingly entering high-stakes markets, there’s more pressure than ever to ensure sizable business growth as soon as possible. Unfortunately for companies operating on limited initial budgets, this goal can be much easier said than done and

relies on making the best decisions for your business while also keeping spending to a minimum.

As you might already know, this is no easy task, which is why new business owners are increasingly turning to cost-cutting options like secondhand equipment. The question is, with equipment closely linked to workplace safety, do these used options ultimately mean cutting corners?

We don’t think so. In fact, company closures seen throughout the pandemic mean that used equipment can be high quality in every industry. That said, with used equipment at a significantly increased risk of malfunction or employee danger, success here is also dependent on taking the following steps before investment.

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Check the reputability of your seller

Whether you’re purchasing warehouse machinery from a company closure or vehicle parts from tractor salvage yards, the reputability of your seller will be your main telling point. If a seller has bad reviews or a complete lack of reviews when you research, then it’s certainly a sign they’re perhaps not the best for reliable purchases. By comparison, sellers famed for their high-quality equipment, parts, or expertise are far more likely to provide you with the finished product that you need. Reputable sellers will also generally offer things like money-back schemes, as well as advising you during your purchase to make it far less likely that you’ll need to claim on that offer.

Know what you’re looking at

It’s all too easy to jump into a seeming bargain without noticing things like dangerously worn parts, misshaping, or even severe damage that means purchase would be both a false economy, and that you put everybody at risk by making this investment. Instead, always do your research, taking time to understand everything from the shape of the equipment to things like stamp marks and other quality indicators. Again, finding a reputable seller here can help as they’ll advise you, but make sure that you fully understand how this equipment should look when new, and thus when used damage takes it beyond its best or even safest.

Get help in-house

Your employees will be the ones most often using this equipment, meaning that they’re likely to have a far better idea of what ‘good’ looks like. Seeking in-house help and advice from your warehouse manager, IT team, or even on-field experts depending on what you’re buying will certainly provide you with a much-needed professional eye. As well as importantly getting your employees on board, this is guaranteed to result in far more informed and wise used purchases than you might make from going in blind otherwise.

Used equipment could be a genius way to save money in your business, or a foolish attempt to cut corners. Make sure you stay on the right side of that divide by always implementing these pointers before signing on the dotted line.

Mixing Romantic Relationships With Business: Is It A Good Idea?

March 22, 2022 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

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Should you ever mix your romantic relationships with your business? The workplace is one of the top places to find a partner, but what are the pros and cons of having a romantic relationship with someone you work with?

There are plenty of examples of this being a big problem, but there are also cases when it could work perfectly. Indeed, there seems to be a lot of husband and wife dental teams out there that run a successful business together with no problems. So, should you actively avoid relationships at work, or can the two go hand in hand?

Serious relationships are the only ones that work

In general, serious relationships are the only ones that will work when you mix business and pleasure. If you have a fling with someone, or you’re not sure about your future together, it is usually a recipe for disaster. You’ll break up, then have to deal with the awkward atmosphere at work – which can affect people other than you two. Sides might be chosen, a toxic work environment is created, and it just doesn’t work out.

But, if you are in a serious relationship, there’s no reason that working together will be a problem. Married couples work together all the time, and it is completely fine. This is because you’re already committed to one another, so there’s less risk of things not working out and causing problems throughout the business.

It could provide a better work-life balance

Being around the person you care about at work can improve your work-life balance. You get to spend more time together – granted, you will be working for the most part. But, you can share breaks and lunches, have conversations throughout the day – it’s just better than being apart from one another all the time.

Plus, you operate on the same schedule. This makes it easier to sort things out, like childcare. You can share your responsibilities at home because the two of you work the same hours all the time. It can make your relationship a lot better!

Possibly improve work performance

Similarly, working with someone you know and care about can actually improve your work performance. You work well as a team, so you can be more productive and come up with better ideas together. After all, some of the best ideas come when you’re at home talking to your spouse about your day. Usually, having their perspective can shine a light on things you might have missed. So, this could happen at work and mean that the business improves.

All in all, mixing romantic relationships and business can be a beneficial combination – but only when the two of you are already in a strong relationship. It’s unwise to date someone that you work with, especially if you are their boss. Complications tend to arise when things don’t work out, and they can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the business. Working with your spouse or long-term partner can be beneficial, but starting a relationship with someone in the office may not be the best idea.

4 Ways To Create A Community Around Your Business

March 22, 2022 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

Photo by Matheus Bertelli from Pexels

The community is at the heart of your business. It can be used to connect people and make them feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves.

Building a community around your business is essential because it can help you achieve your goals and grow as a company. It can also help you create a positive culture that will attract more customers to your brand, whether it’s a company similar to Rockywoods, or online stores like those on Etsy.

Community is all about connecting with people who have similar interests and making them feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves, helping each other out, giving back, and so forth.

Interact with Your Customers Through Comments

The more you interact with your customers on social media, the more they will engage with your brand.

The feedback you get from customers can help you know what they like and what they don’t like about your business. It can also help you build a community around your brand as people are more likely to share their experiences if it’s positive.

Posting on social media channels, responding to comments and messages, and asking for feedback, make your business feel a little more open to your customers.

Offer Discounts To Customers and Fans On Socal Media

A discount campaign is a great way to promote your products and services. It is also a good way to build a community around your business. Offering deals and discounts to customers and fans can help you create relationships with them. It can also help you get feedback from them on how to improve your products or services.

Offering discounts on social media is one of the best ways for businesses to attract new customers. You should offer discounts on all of the social media channels that you are active in. This includes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Host an Online Contest

Online contests are a great way to get people engaged with your brand. They can help you build a social community around your business and generate a lot of buzz.

Some companies host contests where they give away prizes like gift cards, products, or even cash. Other companies might be looking for feedback on their products or services and offer prizes as incentives for participation.

There are many ways you can run an online contest. You can ask people to share their ideas, post pictures, or answer questions about your products or services. One of the best things about online contests is that they are easy to set up and manage. The use of online contests is not just for small businesses either – big companies like Coca-Cola have used them too!

Share Articles and Content on Social Media

A study from Hootsuite found that companies who shared their content on social media had an average of 3,000% more engagement than those who did not. The more content you share on your business page, the more followers you will get. And the more followers you have, the more likely they are to buy from you.

There are many different strategies for sharing content on social media:

Share content that is related to your niche or industry
Share content that is related to your customers
Share content that is relevant for your target audience
Use hashtags in your posts and use them wisely

Using these strategies can help you create a community around your business. However, it’s essential to remember that it takes time and effort to make it a success.

4 Tips For Finding a Distribution Services for Your Business

March 22, 2022 by Contributed Post Leave a Comment

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When you have a business, it is important to find a good distributor for your product. A distributor is someone who sells your product in the market. They buy products from the manufacturer and then sell them at their own price. It can be a wholesaler or retailer similar to the Supermarket Distributors of America.

There are many benefits of finding a good distributor for your business. One of them is that they can give you advice on how to improve your product and make it more appealing to customers. Another benefit is that they can help you grow your business by bringing in new customers and making sure that there are always enough products in stock.

Consider the Costs of Using a Distribution Center

The cost of using a distribution center for business is important to now because it can be expensive. The cost of using a distribution company will vary depending on the size of the order, and the type of service. Using a distribution company also varies depending on the type of product you are shipping, the distance between your business and the customer, and how often you ship.

There are many benefits to using a distribution company for your business including:

Faster delivery times
Improved customer service
Reduced risk of damage or loss

Consider Whether You Need an Exclusive or Non-Exclusive Agreement with Distributors

Exclusive agreements are beneficial for both parties because they provide greater assurance of exclusivity and control over the distribution process. However, if one party is not protected under the agreement, it may be better to have a non-exclusive agreement with distributors.

Non-exclusive agreements allow for greater flexibility and freedom to work with other distributors and suppliers.

Review the Terms of Use Agreement

When you are looking for a distribution service, it is important to understand the terms of use agreement. You want to make sure that you are not giving up your intellectual property rights or violating any copyright laws by uploading your content.

You also want to make sure that you are not giving away any personal data that might be in your content. If the company is using AI and machine learning, they will have access to all of the content uploaded onto their platform. This means that they will have access to your personal information as well.

Review the Contract & Make Sure You Understand It Before Signing Anything

It is important to read over the contract and make sure you understand it before you sign anything. It is a lot of work to get out of a contract, so make sure you are signing up for what you want.

There are many reasons why it is important to review your contract before signing it. The first reason is that your business might not be able to get out of the contract if they don’t like what they read in the terms and conditions. Another reason is that there may be parts of the contract that don’t benefit your business at all, so it would be best not to agree to these terms.