Retail Merchandising Tips And Tricks

Just like technology, the Retail Merchandising industry is constantly changing. With new products being developed every day, there is always a need for new marketing techniques to attract new customers. And with stores constantly competing with other forms of advertising, it’s never been more important to capture a customer’s attention. Here are a few tips and tricks that can help you in this competitive career field:

* Remember the budget-conscious shoppers. In today’s economy, many shoppers are on tight budgets. These same shoppers are trading in the more expensive brands for brands with lower costs. This is good to keep in mind when you are choosing spotlight products.

* Don’t forget about Baby Boomers. Baby Boomers – those who were born between 1946 and 1964 – make up the largest consumer spending group, so make sure you include them in your target market.

* Develop visual merchandising concepts. When creating your plan, include visuals for the storefront, the layout of the entire store and promotional materials.

* Accessorize your end caps. End caps are commonly stocked with seasonal merchandise. In the off-season, use one product on the end caps and include accessories that match that product. If your featured product is a digital camera, add a photo printer, photo paper and memory cards.

* Light it up. Everything from store windows to the fitting rooms should be well lit. Use spotlights to draw attention to key products or to set the mood of the store. Just make sure they are installed properly.

This article is presented by the Academy Schaumburg. Contact us today if youre interested in developing marketable knowledge and career-relevant skills with an industry-current degree program from the Academy Schaumburg.

The Academy – Schaumburg does not guarantee employment or salary.

Home Inspection The Different Types of Specialized Inspections

Normally, general home inspections are performed during the process of buying a property in Raleigh real estate. There are certain cases, however, wherein items or parts of the house are required to be checked by a particular specialist. The difference between a general inspector and a specialized inspector is that the former might know if there’s something that must be fixed or replaced, but does not have the skills to do it; while the latter knows what must be done. This is the reason why you should get all the necessary inspections for the home.

There are various types of specialized home inspections. Some of them include, but are not limited to, the following:

Inspection of Roof – It’s wise to have the roof inspected if you’re planning to buy a resale, particularly if it seems a little old. The seller may pay for a roof certification, but if he/she does not want to, you should just get your own. However, make sure the company you’re going to hire is respectable.

Inspection of Septic or Sewer System – A lot of older houses may possibly do not have any connections to a sewer system, so it’s important to hire a specialist to inspect the sewers before you close the deal to buy the house. Nowadays, technology uses a digital camera to put into the system and then have it pushed to the main line.

Inspection of Spa and Pool – If you’re planning on buying a house with a swimming pool, you should get a spa and pool inspection. Experts on this field would know how to estimate the life expectancy of key components like the heater or the spa blower. The inspection can also show leaks, if there are any.

Inspection of Plumbing and Water Systems – If the house has galvanized pipes, plumbers can determine if they need replacements. There are cases in which pipes are so clogged up that a pencil’s lead can hardly fit through it.

Inspection of Trees – If the house you plan on buying has some trees on the yard, you should have it inspected by an arborist to see whether they are healthy.

Inspection of Soil Stability – Houses that are located near mountains or on hillsides must have the stability of the soil inspected by an expert. Obviously, no one wants to experience land slides during rainstorms. Some places have soil that is likely to be contaminated so it is really crucial to get this type of specialized inspection.

Inspection of Well – Have the well examined by a specialist if there’s one in the property you’re about to purchase. He can inspect the construction and figure out the water table’s depth and check the water sanitation.

Inspection of Methane or Radon Gas – Experts who handle this type of specialized inspection are called mitigation contractors. Hire one so you can have the house examined for methane or radon gas, and then have it removed, if there are any.

Inspection of Mold – A lot of health problems may be caused by mold; even healthy people can be affected. Mold has various kinds and it’s advisable to hire an expert to test the quality of the air if there is mold.

Aside from those listed above, there are other types of specialized inspections available. If your inspector suggests that you hire some specialists, you should do it before purchasing the house you like among Raleigh homes for sale. You would want everything to run smoothly, right?

Home Staging Helps Receiving The Highest Price For The Home.There Are Lots Of People, Who’re Unfort

Despite the idea that each individual has his or her own demands together with tastes, most of us still possesses a the same idea of luxury and comfort. For that reason, staging a home for sale, it will be not difficult to follow some general factors, employed to create an appealing atmosphere within the exterior and interior of a house, which often can be appreciated by many people.
So, first of all it happens to be of great importance to make the house looking nice and trim. The existence of garbage or clutter will unquestionably spoil the impression made by the home, when you will demonstrate it to your potential buyers. Secondly, the rooms at home have to be well-lit, to permit your potential buyers to view the furnishing of the house. And thirdly, the furnishing of the home and its style ought to provide the atmosphere of harmony and comfort, where your prospective buyers will be able to relax and enjoy their time, while residing at home.

You can attempt to make this type of fascinating atmosphere, utilizing your own knowledge of style and comfort along with some general principles we’ve mentioned above above. Nevertheless, if you wish to obtain the the greatest results, while making your house looking very costly and even getting the highest price for its sale, then it will be of great importance to consider the advices of an specialist regarding how to stage a house to sell.

These days the real estate home staging tips seems to be quite intricate issue that will need a particular approach and consideration of the quantity of significant points, which may be missed by non-professionals.

Home Staging – A Powerful Way To Sell Your Property Quickly.

There are numerous people, that happen to be unfortunate, while selling their homes. This occurs, as the major part of these individuals, dont wish to invest some money and time to stage their properties. That’s why here we would like to raise the issue of home staging and its particular significance for the fastest and advantageous home sale.
In spite of the idea that each person has his or her own demands along with tastes, the majority of us still possesses a the same idea of comfort and luxury. That is why, home staging, it could be not so difficult to follow some general aspects, applied to create an appealing atmosphere within the exterior and interior of a house, that may be appreciated by many.
So, firstly it can be essential to make the home looking nice and trim. The presence of garbage or clutter will unquestionably spoil the impression created by the home, if you will show it to your potential buyers. Secondly, the rooms in your own home should be well-lit, to allow your prospective buyers to view the furnishing of your home. And thirdly, the furnishing of the house as well as its style ought to provide the atmosphere of harmony and comfort, where your prospective buyers should be able to relax and enjoy their time, while staying at home.

You can attempt to build this type of fascinating atmosphere, utilizing your very own knowledge of comfort and style with some general principles we’ve mentioned previously above. Even so, if you need to get the best results, while making the house looking very expensive as well as obtaining the highest price for its sale, then it can be of great importance to think about the advices of an expert regarding how to stage a house to sell.
Presently the real estate home staging definitely seems to be quite intricate issue that will require a special approach and consideration of the number of significant points, that could be missed by non-professionals. Simply to start staging a property we offer you to find out about the decorating ideas provided by Lise Desormeaux, who is called a successful Home Staging and Decorating Educator. Her home staging tips present a wonderful guide as for realtors as for homeowners, that are capable to transform their properties into the million dollar homes, which could be instantly sold. These guidelines is going to be also useful for those, that are going to enhance their abodes into the clutter-free and beautiful homes by not finding a decorator.
Go through the recommendations of Lisa Desormeaux, found on www.lisedesormeaux.com, and you’ll be ready to save plenty of cash, discovering the powerful recommendations for home staging.

Home Staging Tips Lawn And Garden

Home Staging isn’t just about the interior, its also about the exterior as well.

Outdoor staging is one of the best ways to bring buyers into your home, as most buyers will drive by your house first to see if they want to check out the inside. A mowed lawn and some shrubbery or flowers will go a long way! There are some gardening tips you should know before you get started.

A yard with many trees will have a lot of leaves falling, making work for you in raking. This can get expensive when you have to buy all those leaf bags. A great way to cut down the amount of bags you’ll need is to fill an outdoor trash can halfway with the leaves you’ve raked. Then, insert your grass trimmer into the trash can and shred the leaves. This gives you more room in the leaf bags, about twice as much actually, saving you money!

In any yard, insects can pose a major problem. Ladybugs are a natural insect control system that can save you money on insecticides. Make sure they have a place to hibernate so they’ll stick around for next year. Dead leaves and/or straw makes a great winter home for them.

If you like to recycle, this is a great tip for you. Ashes from your fireplace can be used efficaciously as fertilizer. Collect the ashes throughout the fall and winter months and save money! Don’t fertilize during hot, dry weather as this can add to draught issues. Sawdust makes wonderful mulch, so if you or a friend does any woodwork, save the sawdust. Pine wood makes the best mulch, just make sure you don’t use any chemically treated wood as this will harm your garden plants. Another great place to save money and recycle is to extract seeds from your existing plants for next season’s planting.

To conserve water put a layer or mulch around your plants. This keeps moisture in and saves you in water bills. Drip irrigation systems use 50% less water to achieve the same product as conventional irrigation systems. They achieve this by slowly letting water seep directly into the root systems of your plants. This is healthier for your plants, as well, as it doesn’t drown them. Rain sensors are a smart investment since no one needs to water if it’s raining! If you already have an irrigation system and don’t want to pay for an entirely new system, try upgrading your timer to an automatic, programmable timer to get the most bang for your buck. These enable you to have more control over your watering system, conserving water and money. The shorter your grass is trimmed, the more water it will take to keep it moist, so raise the blade on your lawn mower. Then recycle the trimmings back into your lawn and garden. Sweep your driveway and walkways instead of spraying them down with a hose.

Lastly, invest in gloves and a Grappler. These will protect your hands from unsanitary items as well as thorns, insects, etc. Remember home staging is a process that when done correctly will allow your home to look its very best. Stage Away!

Brilliant Home Staging Can You Get A Fabulous Price For The Property

When you are planning to sell your home and want a fair price you will have to impress the potential buyers to get them pay what you demand.

That can be possible only if the buyer is adequately impressed by your property. In fact the buyer should see himself living in your house, the moment he steps into survey your home. Obviously first impression counts. The process of doing up a property or dressing up a property before the sale is called Home staging. As an art and marketing gimmick it will give you a competitive edge and fetch a fair price that perhaps you never imagined!.

Justify Your Price

So the critical action to impress a buyer rests with you as a seller. You you must embellish your house in such a manner that every penny you are asking as the price is fully justified. So now, put your home’s best foot forward! First tour your house with a critical eye and repair anything that needs it.

Boost the Appeal: Make sure your home is perfectly ready to lure the buyer or all onlookers. To make the home beautiful, you can do these things

Wash the siding and walkways
Put easy-to-read house numbers
Blooming Plants flowers and fresh greenery
Mow the lawn
Clean windows
Repaint the porch floor

These will make the floors shining and windows gleaming. Now clean all counters so that all surfaces sparkle.

Repair the Cracks: Do away all cracking plaster and burnt out lights.

Lighting: It is an area of low-cost yet high-return investments. Many houses may not have enough light. Try to put more overhead fixtures and add some great lamps.

Space: Decongest the furniture such as a giant sofa that may make a living room look small. Remove them. Only small groupings of furniture can create a sense of space.

Kitchen: The kitchen should look very neat, clean and clutter-free. Keep a single bowl to hold all cooking utensils. Store all small appliances in cupboards.

Clean out the clutter: Get rid of all clutter and in that process let make some of your personal stuff also go away.

Personal items: Minimize the presence of family photos and provide more clean surfaces and objects that are artfully displayed.

Storage space: Buyers want more storage space. So do not show them your overflowing cabinets and closets as it becomes an advertisement of inadequate space for storage. If you are using basement or garage for storage make sure that you have left enough empty space.

Furniture: Remove unwanted furniture to provide a feeling of open space that buyers seek. Stow your personal stuff away when buyers come calling. So have space for easy stowing and clear out items not in regular use.

Depersonalize: After the clutter is out, focus the attention to achieving a modern look. Depersonalize your own decorating.

Painting: Paint the walls in neutral colors and upgrade the appliances.

Now you can behold what difference has come to your little home!

Home Staging Business and Marketing Strategies to Sell Properties

Riches in Niches

As more and more Home Stagers, Professional Organizers, Interior Designers and Real Estate Agents come to APSD for Home Staging Training and Certification, I realize the importance of teaching the concept of “Riches in Niches.”

Some of you already understand this idea and have specialized in one area or another, and others are still trying to be everything to everyone. I started with the idea that I could please everyone too. And I did, and then I was tired and broke. You have to face facts. As women (I know we have some GREAT guys too, but you don’t have the “pleaser” instinct of women!) we already have to please so many other people each day. We please our spouse, our children, our neighbors, our boss – basically anyone that walks in our path.

As I decided to make the real choice and lead the home staging industry, I realized that I could no longer be everything to everyone. I had to be extraordinary with my strengths and visions and help those that were willing and able to receive and exceed with my brand of training. I knew that I wanted to focus on the true business growth aspect of Home Staging Training and Certification. I didn’t want to teach people to put candles on a table. I wanted to teach systems, marketing and business development in an industry I loved. I wanted to teach creativity, lifestyle and money making techniques.

So, I niched myself and APSD as The Global Leader in Home Staging Training and Certification with a specific focus on exactly what I mentioned above.

And because I see the need of “niching” or creating a specialty, I teach 19 different streams of income to our highest level APSD member, Property Scene Designer. I want them to have the , education, resources and ability to niche. The same is true with my APSD Stager Pro’s. I teach 4 different streams of income in that course so they can become experts in certain areas and stand above any other Home Stagers in their market. Kim Holdbrook, one of my Certified APSD Stager Pro’s is awesome at Curb Appeal. She should make it an area of expertise. Mannie Tantawy perfects Origami displays and is already standing out as an expert in this area. Terri Garner is an expert with Home Staging for investment properties as is Cindy Captein. There are many more certified APSD Home Staging Professionals that have also seen the benefit of “niching” their home staging services, and have done so.

It does not mean that you can’t provide an entire menu of services but if you can become known for one specific thing, you will always be the “go to expert” which then opens the door for additional opportunity.

Here Is how you develop your niche:

1) Decide what aspect of Home Staging you Love the most. Do you love doing vacant homes? Maybe working with investors is your niche. What about high end properties? You might specialize in homes over $1 million. You could also focus just on certain type of Home Staging service, like Curb Appeal or Marketing.

2) Once you have decided what you love to do, become the expert. Take the training you need to get to the top of the pack. Practice, practice, practice. Next, you have to toot your own horn. Go out and start telling everyone who will listen, that you are the expert. Then own it internally and do an extraordinary job every single time.

3) Continue to Educate yourself. You can take a course, listen to CD’s, become a member of a great organization like APSD that offers continuing education, look at others work, attend Home Staging events, etc. The biggest mistake that most so-called experts make is they stop learning and growing. Then, others that are willing to receive education surpass them.

4) Market Yourself and your work endlessly. The more you talk about your specialty, the more others will as well. So, don’t be afraid to brag a little about your results and your extraordinary achievements. Before you know it, others will be doing it for you.

An easy way to begin to develop your “niche” status is to listen to the APSD Complimentary call I recently did on Curb Appeal. “Curb Appeal, Creating Impact and Profit in your Home Staging, Design and Real Estate Business.” You also still have time to take advantage of a very special offer I made at the end of the call! http://www/apsdmembers.com/curbappeal

To your joy and success,

Karen Schaefer
Founder, APSD
The Global Leader in Home Staging Training and Certification

The Five Stages Of Risk Assessment

Is risk assessment rocket science? No of course it isn’t.
Health and safety law requires that you carry out recorded,documented risk assessments for work,jobs,tasks or operations with significant risk, if you have more than five employees. The people involved should be included and their input valued, include,engage,embrace your workforce in the safety culture. The results and any changes required should be cascaded,communicated to everyone in the workforce, do not leave information in a file to rot.
I have never done a risk assessment! Of course you have, if you drive a vehicle,car,bike, you perform one at every junction, (I hope), looking both,each ways before driving on, if it is clear to do so. If you cross a street,road,highwayon foot you do the same thing, look both ways before you walk,step out.
Risk assessment is 90% common sense, clean up mess,spillages, repair leaks, dont leave draws open for people to walk into. No trailing cables,wires. Specialist information,knowledge of machinery, production,processes or chemicals,products will,may be needed, so make sure you have this advice when you need it.
Your business’s most valuable asset are employees,staff,workforce, so it makes business sense as well as legal, moral sense to protect them.
It is impossible to eliminate all risk and the law would not expect you to, you are required to do what is reasonably practicable. The definition of this is, what an open minded, reasonable person would expect to be in place. Sometimes referred to in legalise The man on the Clapham Omnibus, but you can Google that yourself.
The Definition of Risk Assessment
A thoughtful,thorough examination of hazards in the workplace and the controls in place to protect people who may visit the workplace
What controls are in place? Review and make changes if necessary.
Did you know?
o 245 people in the UK are killed at work each year not including road related deaths
o There are 30,000 work related serious injuries every year, 1 every 17 minutes o 137,000 people in the UK were injured or killed in work related incidents last year
o 2 million people in the UK believe their illness to be caused or made worse by work
o 25,000 leave work every year never to return o 38.5 million working days are lost in the UK through injury or ill health each year which is a 30 billion annual cost to businesses
Did you know?
o The average fine for successful prosecution by the HSE was 18,765 in 2004 and this is not covered by insurance!
Five Stages of Risk Assessment
Stage 1 Hazard Identification
Pretend you are new and look at everything with a fresh view, is what you record reasonable or should changes be made.
Everyone in the workplace will have an opinion, seek them out and evaluate their comments.
Manufacturer data sheets are an excellent resource for hazard information on machinery and chemicals. Use them as a reference for your risk assessments.
Information that is already in your business’s possession may also be useful, like accident and ill health records, they can often identify hazards which are less obvious.
Not all hazards are immediately obvious, noise and exposure to dust for instance may not manifest themselves for some years.
Step 2 Who is at risk and how?
Compile a list of all persons,individuals who may be at risk then you will be able to manage it. You may need to consider them as groups rather than as individuals.
Descriptions of harm are needed, type of injury, e.g. repetitive tasks like on a production line. There are special requirements for some groups of workers like young people, pregnant women, disabled persons.
Extra thought will be needed for some hazards workers in particular disciplines such as cleaners, visitors, contractors, maintenance workers etc, may not be in the workplace all the time. Also consider members of the public if they could be hurt by your activities. If you share your workplace, you will need to think about how your work affects others present, as well as how their work affects your staff ” talk to them and ask your staff if they can think of anyone you may have missed.
Step 3 Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
There are Approved Codes of Practice available from the HSE which are taken to be industry best practice. What are you going to do about the hazards, everything reasonably practicable is the answer.
Is what you are doing sufficient? Use the ACOPs to measure your performance.
Use the ERICPD acronym to check that you Eliminate, Reduce, Isolate, Control, PPE (personal protective equipment), Discipline of the workforce to work correctly
Step 4 Record your findings and implement them
All findings should be written down, kept simple and not too elaborate. For example ‘Tripping over rubbish bins provided’, Staff instructed, Housekeeping checks now in place weekly. Welding fume, local exhaust ventilation used and inspected regularly
Risk assessments need to, be sufficient and suitable, they are rarely perfect, but need to evaluate the hazard properly.
You need to be able to show
o a proper check was made
o who might be affected
o the significant hazards are controlled
o all people potentially involved
o precautions are reasonable
o staff were involved
o the remaining risk is low
Dont try to do everything at once. Make a plan of action to deal with the most important things first. Health and safety inspectors acknowledge the efforts of businesses that are clearly trying to make improvements.
o Quick fixes
o Medium and long term goals
o Training
Step 5 Review your risk assessment and update if necessary
Review at least annually
Nothing stays the same
o Changes
o Improvements
o Any near misses or accidents
o Ask the workers if everything is OK
o If you know there has been a change review immediately
Some frequently asked questions (Courtesy of HSE Web Site)
What if the work I do tends to vary a lot, or I (or my employees) move from one site to another?
Identify the hazards you can reasonably expect and assess the risks from them. This general assessment should stand you in good stead for the majority of your work. Where you do take on work or a new site that is different, cover any new or different hazards with a specific assessment. You do not have to start from scratch each time.
What if I share a workplace?
Tell the other employers and self-employed people there about any risks your work could cause them, and what precautions you are taking. Also, think about the risks to your own workforce from those who share your workplace.
Do my employees have responsibilities?
Yes. Employees have legal responsibilities to co-operate with their employers efforts to improve health and safety (e.g. they must wear protective equipment when it is provided), and to look out for each other.
What if one of my employees circumstances change?
Youll need to look again at the risk assessment. You are required to carry out a specific risk assessment for new or expectant mothers, as some tasks (heavy lifting or work with chemicals for example) may not be appropriate. If an employee develops a disability then you are required to make reasonable adjustments. People returning to work following major surgery may also have particular requirements. If you put your mind to it, you can almost always find a way forward that works for you and your employees.
What if I have already assessed some of the risks?
If, for example, you use hazardous chemicals and you have already assessed the risks to health and the precautions you need to take under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), you can consider them checked and move on.

Furniture Rental And Home Staging

It has been noted in a survey that this kind of property styling serves more beneficial than reducing the cost of the property. The house doctors are experts in staging homes that get your property noticed in a shorter span of time as compared to a property that is not staged. The home design London companies very well understand that an empty space is more difficult to sell. In contradiction to the popular believe, empty room looks smaller than an effectively staged room. This is because in an empty room you will not have anything to compare the dimensions with. The house doctors arrange the furnitures and other dressings to show a possible layout of the area to their perspective customers but in a very appealing way.The home design companies take care of all the requirements of sourcing the accessories, furniture from furniture rental shops, supplying and installation of the furniture. The house doctors even take care of arranging the tradesmen and managing the project in case major changes like changes or repair work in flooring, building new bathroom, making new kitchen or garden are required.

The furniture rental London shops rent furniture for home staging so that you can save a huge amount of capital in purchasing the furniture and still are able give your property interior a high quality look and feel. The home staging gives your property a look that is so appealing to the prospective customer as if the design is straight out from any design magazine.
The home design companies start by viewing and surveying your property and understanding your requirements. They have a verbal discussion on the areas that require more attention and changes. After this verbal communication the house doctor will make a quotation that fits your budget and requirement. A clever sourcing is planned by either renting or buying the required accessories and dressing at the best possible deals. The house doctor arranges the sourcing of the dressings and furnitures from the furniture rental shops and also takes care of the installation of the furnitures. They are also in charge of removal and return of the pieces at the end of the contract. Most shops rent furniture for the property styling for a period of one month to three months. The home design London companies get you bespoke furnitures as a package for a particular room and also at times pick individual pieces of art work and dressings to go with the theme of your property. They show homes from the perspective of the customers. The house doctors are capable of transforming any dull space into an interesting useable area.