Archive for January, 2011

Business Greeting Card Etiquette

January 30th, 2011
{ No Comments }

When it’s time to send out holiday or other business greeting cards , there are several important rules of etiquette to keep in mind. While most cards sent by businesses are done to keep in touch with clients or attract new business, the cards themselves should show appreciation for the previous or existing relationship and not be an obvious marketing tool.

Invest some time and money in the process. Cards should be attractive and printed on high quality paper. All names and addresses should be updated to avoid the appearance that the client or vendor isn’t important enough to have a current record. All cards should also be signed personally rather than stamped and it’s good to include a short, personal note to the pre-printed card.

It is also important that cards be hand addressed and include the proper titles , such as Ms. or Dr. If the business associate is close enough, their card should be sent to their home address and addressed to both the husband and wife. Cards should be mailed well in advance of the occasion and should take into account the traditions of the recipient, i.e., don’t send a Hanukah card to someone who celebrates Christmas or vice versa.

Business

Clinics Need Equipment

January 24th, 2011
{ No Comments }

When you visit a medical clinic of any kind you are usually preoccupied with thoughts of what is or might be wrong with you. Even a visit to a chiropractor or physical therapist brings up thoughts of pain and worry about how many more appointments it will take to be back to normal. Few people stop to think about what it takes to set up and maintain a health care clinic of any kind. It’s actually a good exercise in business management or a terrific distraction from one’s health problems.

More than anything else, a medical clinic needs equipment. Basic equipment include desks, chairs, waiting room furniture, and computers. Those are universal to many types of business. The real expense comes from the medical equipment needed to operate the clinic. This starts with special software and computer systems that are designed to handle medical records, diagnostic reports and even store and view x-rays, ultrasounds and other imaging.

The equipment itself is very costly. Many new clinics rely on medical equipment financing to make it possible for them to open their doors. In addition to ultrasound and computer equipment, a clinic may need x ray machines, lab equipment for testing, or surgical equipment to conduct simple procedures. Then there are the exam tables and chairs for patients. A PT clinic will need tables, bikes, patient lifts, and various treatment equipment. It may also need a whirpool or water massage table. Dentists, chiropractors, and optometrists and opthalmologists all have their own equipment needs too.

Business

Throwing a Retro Party

January 16th, 2011
{ No Comments }

Every good event planner knows that a memorable party needs a memorable theme. Something that can unite decorations, music, food, and activities will create a cohesive experience that will stand out in the minds of partygoers long after the event is over. A trick in choosing a memorable theme is to engage the memory to create the theme. Put simply: a party with a retro theme will force guests to remember the past which will associate those memories with the new event.

Choosing the right era for a retro party is going to depend heavily on the demographic of the guests. The older the average age, the further back the era will need to be. For young people, any era in the past will be equally novel. Right now popular eras include the 1980s and 1990s as well as the 1970s (which don’t seem to want to die). Older populations may be nostalgic about the 1960s or even the 1950s.

Using as many details from a given era as possible will help create a more complete retro experience. Decorations and music are a good start, but hosts should also take care that food and beverages match the era. Everything from old time candy to cocktails popular at the time will help recreate a moment in time. Encouraging guests to come in retro clothing or costumes also adds to the ambiance.

Leisure

Window Replacement Adds Value to a Home

January 6th, 2011
{ No Comments }

As the housing market begins to rebound in certain areas of the country, homeowners are looking for ways to improve the resale value of their properties. This includes installing new systems and appliances as well as investing in replacement windows and doors to improve energy efficiency.

The value of replacing older, inefficient windows is two-fold. In the first case, newer windows are much more energy efficient. This means that homeowners will see a significant drop in their seasonal heating and cooling bills while they continue to reside in their home. These lower bills will also be attractive to prospective buyers who won’t want to purchase a home with high energy costs.

Secondly, new windows can increase the actual resale value of a structure. Buyers will know that they won’t have to replace windows for a long time. In addition, attractive, well-fit windows add to the aesthetic value of a home, making it much more appealing and valuable to buyers.

There is a certain group of buyers out there who are looking to buy the most environmentally-friendly home they can afford. Having energy-saving features that reduce a home’s carbon footprint can make the house more attractive to these buyers. That increases the chances that the home will sell for its asking price.

Real Estate