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Landscaping is the redesigning of the visible features of an area of land. It includes planting flowers, weed trimming, mowing the lawn, shrubs and trees, and trimming hedges and trees.

How Landscaping is Important for your Business

Do you want to know how landscaping is important to your business? Here below are various reasons:

Gives a Good First Impression – An attractive exterior for your business is important because it makes a first good impression. It portrays a good reputation about your company and how well-organised it is. It’s good to make sure your business looks pretty to show that you care about how people perceive it. A well-kept commercial facility, with trimmed grass, trees, plenty of flowers and plants, clean garden, and washed sidewalks, signals a good impression. A well-maintained exterior will give a positive reaction about your employees and business while untidy and disorganized landscape will give a negative picture of your company.

Attracts Customers and Helps Employee Retention – Landscaping is used as a good way of attracting more customers to your business. More so, if it’s well designed maintained. Well pruned trees and flowers creates a happy atmosphere that’s welcoming to the customers. They feel at home and connected to nature. By planting trees and maintaining a beautiful lawn you catch the customer’s eye to your business. Studies also prove that workers with flowers in the office or placed on windows do better and less stressed than the ones who don’t have flowers. A business can lose the existing customers and potential ones through poorly maintained landscaping and exterior, such as trees, grass and flowerbeds. An outdoor area or the business surrounding that is not appealing to the eyes, gives an impression that the owners of the business cares less about their appearance or how they take part as members of their surrounding g community.

Increases Market Value – Quality landscaping and well-maintained trees around your commercial property is a plus for your business since they add the market value of your business. The value addition also applies to the surrounding community. Neighbouring residents are more likely to supporting the business when the owners help in protection of the natural beauty of the area. Moreover, other companies will embrace commercial maintenance thereby making the area valuable. The presence of shade trees in your parking lot, a well-organized landscaping and   pretty outdoor water features makes customer frequent your business. They visit for breaks, talks with friends or just to enjoy nature.

Saves Time and Money – Hiring a company that is professional in landscaping for outdoor space saves on time and money. Furthermore, it takes off the load and makes the company to concentrate more on the core business. On the site of a leading landscaping company in London, you can see the range of prices for their landscaping services. When you take a look on it, you’ll soon realise it is a better idea to hire professionals, than to try to do it yourself.

Safety and Reduction in Crime

There are a few features of a well-maintained landscape that provide security to your business. For example, the presence of a vegetation that does no help in spreading fire, security lights at the night, trees that acts as fence therefore keeping thieves and unwanted visitors away and marked pedestrian walkway. Additionally, a well-maintained landscape prevents damage and injury.

Creates a Lasting Impression

Perception matters and a professionally maintained landscape creates a lasting impression on your business. When customers are met with well-maintained landscaping, they feel happy are more likely to be regular customers to your business. This happy atmosphere has a psychological impact on your employees and visitor, thus creating a feel of comfort and at home in you commercial property. They will always be happy to pay you a visit next time and long for it.

Increases Productivity

According to a number of research findings, people work effectively in natural places. A well-maintained landscape creates a good and peaceful working condition for your employees. By planting flowers and trees, you help in making the employees happy and when the employees are happy your client is also happy and this leads to increased productivity.

Nature Can Help You with Reducing Your Energy Bills

The secret behind a well-maintained landscape is that it can help your business save in terms of energy bills. A good example is when you have trees that provide shade, they lower the summer cooling bills by 20%. Also, these trees can act as snow barriers and keep the winter warm.

Over recent years the threat of cyber-attack has become ever more prevalent with governments, large corporations and other high-profile organisations all falling victim. A common misconception is that small businesses are of no interest to cyber criminals. In fact, they’re often more vulnerable than they believe. This is why cybersecurity stocks are expected to rise – greater awareness of the problem and attempts to tackle it will lead to growth for those operating in the industry. 

There are a number of reasons why cybersecurity is growing in importance. One of the most obvious is that we’re simply conducting more of our deals and transactions online.  All that information held on distant cloud services represents a sitting duck unless it is adequately protected. Any small business that transfers data over the internet is accountable for any data breach that might take place. Additionally, employees are increasingly working from mobile devices; laptops, mobile phones and tablets, particularly those used to access public Wi-Fi, all bolster your chances of attack. When data is stolen, and money lost as a consequence, the repercussions of an attack don’t end there. Reputational damage can strangulate a small business; without your customers’ trust, how can you continue to operate? Taken together, these examples make it clear why cybersecurity stocks have been gradually rising in value.

Although the notion of tackling cyber security and protecting your small business may seem a daunting one, in fact it can be relatively easy. It’s a matter of preparation and doing all you can to make your enterprise less penetrable to cyber criminals. One of the most basic measures to take is to back up your data. That way, if hackers find their way into your system, corrupted or stolen data can be retrieved. Make backing up part of your regular routine. Malware is another watchword. There are all sorts of anti-malware products on the market, some of which are free. Find out which one is best for your type of business and introduce it before it’s too late. Enforcing rules around the use and security of mobile devices is another easy step to take, as is the promotion across your business of sensible password use. For some businesses, it may be worth investing in specialist cyber security training to make sure all staff are briefed on everything from phishing to firewalls.

While it’s not possible to define exactly how cybercrime and its opposite, cyber security, will develop in the future, they will almost certainly become an ever-greater consideration for us all, both personally and professionally. Developments will be related to the way IT systems are evermore intertwined with each other and with our daily lives. Virtual assistants, automated decision-making, internet-enabled objects like cars and white goods – all these will change the cybercrime landscape.

Although the threat of cybercrime may feel overwhelming, in fact we have many tools at our disposal both to prevent attacks and to protect our information. The most sensible approach is to arm yourself with information and stay up-to-date. We can also be comforted by the fact that there are many more people working to improve cyber security than there are those setting out to defraud organisations. The world’s best digital minds are constantly working to stay one step ahead of the cyber criminals, thwarting their efforts to profit from online misdemeanours.

When employees’ disillusionments hit their tipping point, subsequent negative behavioral patterns inhibit profits. Human capital has its roots in the pre-industrial revolution economics as a vital tool for growth and a factor of production. Today, human resource management has evolved as a distinct department in a business aimed at understanding, managing, leveraging technology for productivity and the need to improve employee engagement. A high-performance workforce powerhouse requires a solid policy framework addressing employees’ demands from recruitment to pension schemes. Top-flight companies like Apple and Google go the extra mile to allot employee shares. These incentives promote worker productivity and align their interests with those of investors.

This article dissects the essential strategies for startups, giant corporations and medium-sized to boost workplace performance.

Developing Leadership to Drive Productivity

International corporate governance guidelines encourage businesses to strike a delicate balance between employees and investors. Sinking your cash into productivity programs or interventions can stir long-term benefits. You need stewardship across your business and increased awareness of investment goals among workers. For instance, businesses should ensure that their leadership sheds light to the rationale for changes that impact the workplace and teams.

Enhancing Employee Engagement

How many times do you rub shoulders with your workers? Fostering an environment with proactivity improves engagement because your workers have a sense of belonging. As noted above, an employee stock option adds an extra stream of income with tax benefits. Employees who hold shares or an interest in a business are motivated to promote the success of the enterprise. Businesses need physical or virtual workplaces that enhance teamwork, collaboration, and interaction. You have to establish a consistent flow of information among employees about entrepreneurial priorities and objectives.

Workplace Environment & Employee Flexibility

Workplaces strategies help enhance employee productivity with a broad range of abilities, inspiration, and opportunities. You also identify negative actions such as discomfort, interruptions, and safety concerns.

Although your employees spruce up their workstations, consider hiring a professional office cleaning company. They have better equipment and staff to tidy up, de-clutter, and sanitize office space. A professional cleaning specialist has in-depth knowledge of which products to apply to wipe out germs without lingering stench or toxic ingredients.

Feedback Sources

Do you pay heed to employees’ concerns, ideas or opinions? Human resource strategists link employer’s attitudes to difficulties or challenges in modern offices. Thus, business structures should tap into suggestions that their workers propose such as human resource efficiency insights. That’s why every organization must create an open and aboveboard communication platform for employees.

Managerial Relationships

Gone are the days of condescending bosses. Productivity specialists have pointed out that puritanical attitudes discourage innovation and increased productivity. In the wake of ‘gig economies’ and freelance, increased productivity comes from worker autonomy. Giving employees freedom over time, workflow, and flexibility vindicates their ethics as opposed to dominion over them. Remote workers surpass your expectations, work more hours, demand less sick leave, outperform their permanent counterparts, and get more engaged in their workplace.

Ethics in the Workplace

Barriers such as interpersonal conflicts, poor job autonomy, heavy workload, and unfavorable team atmosphere lead to hazardous organizational results. Organizational leaders who fail to detect and prevent fraud risk dishonesty or breach of trust due to lack of values or norms that guide behavior. In fact, environments where fraud, environmental degradation, waste, and corruption thrive encourage destructive behavior against businesses along with individual careers.

Recruitment & Promotion Strategies

Increasing employee satisfaction with generous perks has played a pivotal role in transforming tech giants like Google. Your human resource management should use compensatory incentives to quench their employees thirst in the job market. Research suggests businesses may enhance performance by improving strategies that create a positive mix of motivational tools or opportunities.

Collaborative decision-making between leaders and workers enhances nurtures better attitudes. Google and Facebook top the charts with famous packages like masseuse, nap pods, and extras. Propose offers that enrich employees to promote loyalty, due diligence, and increased morale. Businesses that create an enriched workplace environment reap the benefits of improved retention rates.

Leveraging Technologies

Technology has unchained modern employees from routine tasks giving them leverage to pursue strategies that provide greater returns. The internet facilitates virtual meetings for fast information transfer and cutting down traveling expenditure. Upgrading systems and integrating intuitive tools also minimizes human error, and enhances the safety and productivity of employees. Establishing employee-customer self-service platforms allow individuals to get on top of issues to resolve them immediately. If you provide easy access to virtual curriculums, your employees hone their skills at their own space and timelines.

Assessment

With data-driven ventures in the frontline of the fastest-growing companies, you will gain insight by assessing productivity with a wealth of information. Employee management tools help you value the quality, output, and existing gaps to draft policies aimed at improving performance or overall morale. Fortunately, your business has online-based productivity assessment tools at its disposal. They allow you to oversee, streamline, and control projects across your workforce intuitively.

As you’ve probably already noticed, business is constantly changing. Industries frequently shift between being of the utmost importance, and being essentially inconsequential. It is important to learn which industries are here to stay. Whether you are looking for a change in career, or just searching for different opportunities, it is vital to know you are making a correct decision. This is especially true following the uncertainty of the Brexit. However, generally speaking, the UK economy is growing faster than expected.

Construction

After the Brexit vote in 2016, the industry was expected to drop. This is due to fears that a lack of EU labour would be available. However, surprisingly, the industry has flourished since. Studies show that the construction business is growing, fast. From 2016 to 2018, a whopping 30,000 new businesses were created, which is a growth of 10%. In 2019, the construction industry accounts for 13% of all UK businesses. If you have a background in building work, architecture, or engineering, construction might be the best career path for you. The stats don’t lie – construction is one of the best industries to get into.

House & Office Removals

The general opinion is that if you don’t live in a flat (or a small house), it’s always worth it to hire a professional removals company. Following the Brexit vote, many companies are moving from the UK to the EU, which means removal companies have their work cut out for them. As a result, the need for these businesses is definitely on the rise. An example would be Amazingmoves, a house and furniture removal company from London. Ever since the company was founded, it has been constantly growing and employing new workers. People will always need a helping hand when moving, so working in the removal industry is definitely a step in the right direction.

Energy

The UK is looking to reduce carbon emissions. Did you know that the government plans to increase all energy consumption from renewable resources to 15% by 2020? Consequently, experts estimate that the renewables industry could open up to 400,000 new jobs by the end of the year; that is a huge number. As new technologies arise, and people become more and more attracted to using renewable resources – it is apparent that the industry will continue to flourish in the following years.

Digital Marketing & Advertising

The industry of digital marketing has been growing quickly for the past 10 years, and it does not seem like it will slow down. As social media channels are expanding, the demand for more people in this area of work is on the rise. If you have a degree in Graphic Design, English, or even Maths, you can definitely find great work here.

Virtual Reality

The demand for good VR is rising, rapidly. The market is expected to be worth £120 billion by 2020, and the UK can certainly capitalise on that. It’s important to note that Virtual Reality is not just for gamers. It can be used in work too. For example, VR could test safety measures, it could be used in digital marketing, and could help with police training. The possibilities are (literally) endless with VR. The majority of Virtual Reality companies are based in London, though new studios are emerging all over the country. VR is one of the most exciting things happening in the tech world right now, and it will definitely become a big part of our lives in the future. If you want to help shape the incoming world of Virtual Reality, you might want to look into the industry.

Finance

More and more start-up businesses are emerging all over the country. The industry is rapidly growing and in need for financial guidance. As a result, the demand for finance professionals is rising. Not only that, but also UK-based firms expect an 88% growth in the following years. If finance is your thing, you should have no problem finding work in the UK in today’s market.

Looking For Work?

While these businesses are definitely in demand, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t other opportunities. There will always be jobs available in the IT and tech world, as technology is an ever-growing sector in 2019. However, as previously mentioned, it is hard to guess which industries will become obsolete in the future. The market can change, and it can change fast. As a result, it is important to do research on the industry you are interested in and see what the forecast is like. In the end, the most important thing is to work in a field you actually enjoy.

Trying to Invest?

On the other hand, if you’re looking to invest, you should probably stick to the industries on the list. When it comes to investment, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. There is no question that the UK is very important for (local and international) investors. The London Stock Exchange has the third largest stock exchange in the world.

Part-time business ideas can be very lucrative. If you happen to get a great idea that you can turn into a business you better act on it as fast as possible. Ways to earn money are becoming scarce so people are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to earn some extra cash.

One of the ways is to open a part-time business. There are a number of these types of businesses found in the UK, so why wouldn’t you try doing it? The question is always how to start and what to do. We can offer you our help by listing some of the more popular types of part-time business found in the UK today.

Personal Trainer

Personal trainers are really sought for in recent times. Everyone wants to look like a movie star. But not everyone has the discipline and the integrity to do it. So the only way is to find yourself a personal trainer to help you get your body in perfect shape. If you are a person who likes working out, you should consider becoming one.

There are two ways that you can do this. First, you can accompany your clients to the gym or make use of parks and other public places where you can help them train. Secondly, if you have a personal trainer license you can always apply for a job at a local gym. Many gyms offer personal trainer services and you can do this as part of your part-time job.

A Junk Removal Business

Starting a junk removal business may not be a dream job, but it is a very lucrative one in the UK. There is a lot of need for waste removal services in London, particularly in certain areas and you can check the list of them on the website of this well-known waste removal company. The list of clients is very long and there are a lot of different types of services that you can offer. Besides just removing waste you can also provide recycling services. One of the biggest advantages of starting your own rubbish removal business is that the starting investment is pretty low. You don’t require much to start and you can start doing it with a bunch of your friends. If you are serious enough and if you do all things right, you might get to develop a really good kind of a business that will earn you a lot of money.

Tutoring Services

There is always a great need for tutoring services. If you are an educated person or are just particularly good in one field you can easily become a tutor. More so, you can turn this into your own private part-time business. You can offer various types of tutoring offers and attract a lot of people who are in need of learning something new. There are also a lot of students who need help with their exams. Additionally, online tutoring services have become very popular. It actually makes things a lot easier as you can give lessons from the comfort of your home and do not have to commute all the time. The investment is also really low and the returns can be quite high.

Virtual Assistant

Being a virtual assistant is a modern trait that a lot of businesses are looking for these days. There are a lot of companies and individuals who are really busy and require certain help with their daily work and routine. Enter virtual assistants! This is a kind of a job that you can do from your home and you don’t really require any specific training. The only skill that you need to have is being highly organized.

A lot of people have made a career by being virtual assistants. You don’t need a lot to start this kind of a business and you can advance in it very quickly. The work that you are usually required to do is to receive and answer e-mails, schedule appointments, following up with clients and certain other similar organizational tasks.

Event Planning

London is an enormous city, so it makes sense that there are a lot of things happening all the time. This also means that a lot of capable people are required to organize these events. So if you like doing this kind of work and are very good at organizing events, you can become a real event planner. This is yet another type of a job that does not require you a lot to start. You do need to have some connections and it also helps if you know a lot of people, but generally you need to be resourceful and communicative to start. It will not take you long to develop this business idea as a lot of clients will be rushing at your door very fast. 

Handyman

If you are good at fixing stuff you should put that skill to good use. Being a handyman is a good type of a part time job as a lot of people who don’t know how to fix stuff will call you. You have a good chance of expanding your client base really fast. Not a lot of modern people are good at fixing things around the house and it is where you can see your opportunity. It does not take a lot to develop a business model for this kind of a business and you can actually start really fast. If you have some friends you can call them over and start a business together.

Maybe you are a calm person that would like to work alone and in peace. Perhaps you are assuming that you should become a florist because that is the one business that is offering that kind of working conditions. However, being a florist is a more labor-intensive than what most of you would assume. A typical day for a good florist starts at 4AM and will see you collecting and transporting goods to your store where you have to clean them and process them as finished products. Not to mention all kinds of people that would enter your shop.

Being a florist is not an easy job, but is there such a thing as an easy job?

You Will Get Physical

You might think that cutting and arranging flowers is a delicate job. However, this job will see you spending hours on your feet just moving buckets full of flowers and water and organizing them in storage. You will have to lift 50-lb buckets of water and flowers, carrying deliveries and boxes of centerpieces through kitchens, and that is something I call hard work. You will have to clean after yourself and there will be a lot of things to clean. 

No Sleep

You will need to be better than “snoozers”. Get up with the sun and start your working day way before the “OPEN” sign goes up at 9am. You Will Need an Online Promotion A flower shop business can be a small shop, led only by one person, or it could be a national chain with hundreds of locations. Some of the most successful flower shops sell flowers online only and don’t actually have physical shops. This is why it is very important to choose a good domain name. However, most .com or .co.uk domains have already been sold out. This is why you could start thinking about some org.uk or just .uk domains. A good example for a successful online flower shop that chose an alternative domain is flowerdelivery.org.uk, a flower delivery shop from London that is among the more popular shops. People from the UK often use it to buy or send flowers nationwide.

Even though the best domain names have already been taken, it is always a good idea to take a look at the less popular “domain extensions” because there is a chance that your brand name is still available on those.

Being a Florist is Not a Peaceful Experience

Many people think that being a florist is a peaceful, solitary experience in which you work alone, surrounded only with flowers and nature. However, you will spend thousands of hours trying to bring in potential customers, finding best suppliers, organizers and collaborators you can and constantly working on your social networks. You will not only work with future brides, event organizers and catering companies, but the entire online world. This should be a huge opportunity for your business. Flowers have a reputation of being timeless, romantic, and fairly traditional, but that doesn’t mean that you should lead your flower business like it is 1960s. Start your online shop, post regularly on social networks and stay in touch with your customers.

You Will Have to Talk to People

A florist should be comfortable talking to people no matter what they are going through. You will have customers (daily) who are planning weddings, celebrating major accomplishments and those who have loved ones who are seriously ill or recently passed away. Sometimes, you will have all those profiles in your shop at the same time.

It’s You Against the World

According to Wikipedia, the floral industry in the US has grown six percent annually, and the global trade volume in 2003 was US$101.84 billion. It consists of three major components: the growers, the wholesalers and the retailers and their businesses are interconnected. However, the combination of huge international corporations coupled with their offshore sourcing of flowers has put independent florists and local growers in a difficult situation. Imports from countries like Kenya and Columbia are forcing prices down and an increase in market share for large retail outlets and they are putting pressure on florists to compete on every level. Digital customers and the increasing number of digital competitors are completely changing the industry landscape and you have to adapt. This world will not give you a chance for romantic notions of slow-moving days in your “quiet” flower shop.

It Will Cost You

A flower shop business usually costs somewhere between $10,000 and $50,000 to open. However, there are some successful florists who started their businesses in their living room with a $50 box of tools.In reality, you will have to buy coolers for keeping your flowers fresh, leasing a location, buying an initial order of flowers from a wholesaler and getting some of the most important supplies like floral tape, vases, floral foam, etc. Wages will not be a problem at the very beginning because you will most probably be the only worker. After a short period of time you will start thinking about purchasing a van that will help you deliver orders, and that will be the right time to hire the first employee – a driver.

“Everyone’s got to start somewhere; You should start before you are ready.”

You will need to know the basics about the flowers, and you will have to love what you do. But you don’t have to know everything or have some perfect plan. Maybe you will have some side-job until you get your business started, but the business will get it up and running. There are hundreds of tutorials that you can find online, or you could master your skills by working at some flower shop. So, you will need to understand the industry, learn new floral design ideas, train, and to keep upgrading your flower care knowledge. You have to be better than your competition!

Most of the products we use at home or offices end up being junk. The waste should to be taken away from our homes and we need that person or service to do it for us. A good number of people fear being involved in the business because of the misconception that dirt is for the poor. They simply don’t want to be associated with dirt because they assume that working with junk makes them dirty. This is not the case since junk collection business can be an awesome source of income.

Conduct Market Research

This is among the preliminary steps you should take. Try as much as possible to get enough information on how junk collection business is performing. With emphasis in the area you are interested in starting your business. Likewise, have an in-depth analysis and understand why the existing companies offering same services have succeeded.

Junk removal (waste removal) business is very lucrative in the UK, London. Especially because a lot of companies have their seats in it, and a lot of people are living there. However, there is also competition, so you have to set up your business on the right way. Sometimes, it is smart just to copy what successful people do, and Handyrubbish is a great example of a successful rubbish removal company. Study their website, learn more about the website and what they do. Try to repeat the same and you’ll have very good chances for a success.

Some other important  information you should be on the lookout for  is how  much it takes to dispose junk,  the location for disposing the junk, what type of junk you will be dealing with and the number of employees you will need  to help you run the business. Also, you will have figured out whether you will need to hire a company to perform the job for you or you will be able to do it by yourself. Either way, choose an option that will suits you best.

Business Registration

Look for a good name that fits junk collection and register your company with the registration of companies in your area. Having the right papers will help you with having fine issues with the authorities.

Come Up With a Business Plan

After collecting all the vital information, the next thing you have to come up with is business plan.  A good business plan should consist of what kind of business you will be involved in. It should also have your objectives and why you are in the market. Moreover, it has to contain the type of services you offer, the market strategies you will use and lastly the projection of your business in future. You can write the business plan by yourself or seek a professional writer to write it for you. After the business plan, strictly abide by the plan for the success of the business.

Get an Office Space

You might need an office to operate from but this will depend on your initial capital. If you have enough capital then you can rent a bigger space, but if you are starting small, consider renting a place that will double up as a store. Your workers will have a place where they can meet in the morning before dispersing and in the evening. It will also act as a store to keep the equipment.

Map the Areas You Want to Work In

Come up with a plan on the specific areas you want to work in. While it’s advisable to work in areas with people of middle and low income, it’s also good to work in places with richer folks. This adds up your profits and client base. Additionally, don’t work in areas that are far from the dumping site.

Equipment

Junk removal business will be hectic for you to run without the correct equipment. You will have to put all the equipment in place before you commence the business. Some core equipment you will need are; a truck that will be used for transporting the junk, brooms, shovels, rake and a spade and you are good to go.

Get the Right People to do the Job

For every business to be successful, it should have the right employees.  Employees who share your mission and vision and who participates in the success of the company. You can decide to employ already trained workers or newbies and train them while you continue with the business.

Market your Business

It’s important to come out with the best marketing strategies for you company. You company is still new and you need a space in it. There are several ways in which you can advertise your business. For example, you can target the online clients by use of blogs, Facebook or in websites. For the sake of reaching the customers who are not online, use bill boards or brochures. Another way is by painting your trucks so that the customers get the message and the service at the same time.

It’s no secret that the UK has one of the most expensive and consistently unreliable rail networks in Europe. Each and every day, passengers across the UK take a collective 4.7 million train journeys. All in all, this adds up to around 1.7 billion journeys each year. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of peak-hour trains end up horrifically overcrowded and uncomfortable. It’s not uncommon for the number of passengers on a rush-hour train to exceed its official capacity by more than 100%. And if all this wasn’t enough, even the shortest train journeys in the UK are becoming increasingly expensive.

Not just expensive, but downright extortionate.

Prohibitive Prices

In a working example, let’s say you were heading from Glasgow Central to Manchester Airport. A one-way ticket would set you back approximately £33, while a return is (inexplicably) priced at £85. If this was your standard commute, you’d be looking at spending approximately £20,000 on train journeys per year.

Even if you went with a discounted season ticket, you’ll still be looking at more than £12,000 per year, or a minimum of £1,000 per month. All for the privilege of sitting (or standing) in a packed train, which probably isn’t going to be on time, anyway.

A Cost-Effective Alternative?

Most would agree that this kind of money for uncomfortable and unreliable train travel is downright ridiculous. In which case – why not consider a cost effective alternative? For the sake of argument, let’s reduce this monthly train travel expense to £500. Armed with £500 per month, you could easily drive away in an outstanding vehicle on a PCP deal. All while having an additional £500 in your pocket to cover insurance, fuel, repairs and so on.

Personal contract purchase – aka PCP – bears many similarities to leasing a vehicle. The difference being that at the end of the contract, you can take ownership of the car if you choose to do so. As with a more traditional hire purchase agreement, it’s a case of paying an initial deposit, followed by a series of affordable monthly repayments.

In this instance, affordable really means affordable.  Should you be applying for car finance with bad credit, there are many options offered by reputable dealers and brokers to support you. Pick up a Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 95 SE on a three-year PCP deal and you’ll be looking at less than £200 per month, along with a relatively low £750 initial payment. You benefit from the comfort and convenience of your own vehicle, you save an astonishing amount of money per month and you get to choose from three options at the end of the term:

• Pay a predetermined ‘balloon’ payment and take full legal ownership of the vehicle
• Continue your monthly repayments and upgrade to a newer vehicle
• Hand the keys back to the service provider and walk away, with nothing more to pay

Personal contract purchase effectively combines the affordability of a leasing agreement with the benefits of a traditional hire purchase contract. Whichever way you look at it, it’s also an exponentially more cost-effective option than train travel. Especially if you decide to keep the vehicle at the end of the term, as you’ll have something tangible to show for your money. With train travel, you’re largely investing in frustration and disappointment.

Getting a Good Deal

Accessing affordable car finance has never been easier. First of all, establish your budget and explore the available options using an online vehicle finance calculator. After which, all you need to do is submit your application via an experienced independent broker. If public transport simply isn’t doing it for you, why not go private?  

I first met the lovely Martin and Nikki from Breakers cafe in Cromer back in April 19. Martin had been waiting for over 6 weeks for a card machine he had ordered from his banks recommended merchant service and was feeling completely let down. As the new owner of Breakers cafe the last thing Martin needed was to be messed around, he wanted to be able to offer his customers a way to pay by card and risked losing trade.

During my first meeting with Martin I knew I could help him, knowing how efficient me and my customer service team are, I was certain I could have Martin up and running in a matter of days. But low and behold whilst I was there, a DPD driver walked through the door holding the card machine he had ordered 6 weeks before.

So that awkward moment…. do you convince the customer that the card machine is a bag of spanners or do you just walk away. Well neither, I said “you need to do what’s right for you and your business and what’s going to get you up and running straight away. So can I help install it for you and show you how to use it?” Kindly declining my offer and apologising for the situation, I then left. But staying true to my belief that no matter what, I am here to help my local businesses even if that means I can only offer free advice. It’s often the case in my line of work that customers are not advised on how card processing works, whether that be how to use their card terminal correctly or how to avoid additional charges just because no one spent the time explaining things to them. Which is why we want to be different.

We don’t just send a customer a card machine and say get on with it. We fully explain how to prevent unnecessary charges, install the equipment and train them and their staff. A few days later Martin called and explained the card machine wasn’t suitable and could I go back to see him. Another reason it’s important for merchant services to take the time to figure out which type of card machine is best for a business. So that same day I returned to process his application and 4 days later I was back again completing the installation.

Now good to go, Martin could finally relax and focus on running his business. Knowing Martin was also keen to introduce a new epos system in the future, I made sure the card machine was suitable to integrate with this. Two months on and Breakers Cafe are now up and running with a new epos system, which we have supplied and helped add all the menus to, so that Martin could switch over to his new system over night. Like with any new software there are teething problems, and fully understanding this, I was on hand each day to make changes quickly. With 24/7 support provided by eposnow, Martin was also able to learn how to use the system through dedicated training sessions.

Now Breakers cafe is ready to tackle their first summer season, with a fantastic choice of menus (I highly recommend the Breakers Belly Buster) and an efficient system that allows them to have complete oversight of their business, staff and profit margins. And more importantly the ability to offer their customers an option to pay by card!.

It’s been pleasure to work with them and I wish them all the best for the future.

P.S if you are in Cromer make sure you pop in to Breakers cafe, you wont be disappointed ❤

Starting a moving business is pretty easy! You don’t need a lot to start and there are virtually no investments needed. But you do have to get yourself a van or a truck and a few people as your staff. Nevertheless, this is just a first step as in order for you to be successful, you need to have a favorable marketing campaign for your business. It does not matter how good or professional you are, nobody will know it unless you advertise. Making a sound marketing strategy and throwing your name into the mix of competitors is the main point you have to do. Before you start your moving business you have to determine how people are going to reach you.

There are a lot of moving companies already existing in London. There is a great need for them as people are constantly in need of such services. But the competition is great and the only way for your company to get an edge over the competition is by being more popular. Here are some marketing tips that can help you improve your moving business.

Make a Great Website

Having a clear and catchy website goes a long way. Today, every company needs to have one as it helps them not only advertise but also show the people all of the services you can offer them. Having a website is like having one enormous billboard, except it’s on the internet. But you also need to make your website so it can stick out among the sea of others similar like yours. Take for instance MovingDay, a well-known moving company from London, and their website. It is a clear example of how a good website should look. It is neat, user-friendly and mobile responsive. It is not cluttered and displays all the important information that potential customers might be interested in. These are all the properties that you should look for when designing your moving business website.

Use Social Media

Besides a website, social media accounts about your business are a very powerful marketing tool. All important business have social media accounts. Whether it’s on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, it is another powerful and favorable way to show potential customers what your business offer includes. It is also much easier for people the find and hire you. If you don’t know which platform to use, the best answer is use as much as you can. If you are present on more social media platforms there is a greater chance of somebody hiring you. Try with the most popular ones first. Also, you might get a expert to manage all of your social media accounts as well.

Offer Promotions and Discounts

What people love the most are discounts. A lot of stores put stocked up items on sale so they can remove them from their stocks. Many people are immediately attracted when they see certain items being on sale. Why pay a full price when you can pay half. Since this is how a consumer’s mind works, use it to your advantage and offer special offers and bonuses. You can advertise these offers on your site or social media accounts. Provide special moving days where the price is 20 or 30 percent off. Give coupons or allow people to unlock prices. This is all very favorable in attracting more customers.

Create an E-mail Newsletter

Using an E-mail newsletter is probably the simplest form of adverting. Some people see this as an ineffective tool, which is completely wrong. It has proven that it actually works and that it increases the number of customers that you will get. What is important about this is that it is easy to set. You won’t need so much time making nor maintaining it. But what you need to invest your time in is getting the tone of the newsletter right. Try and research this and make sure to be polite and warm but professional at the same time. It is in a way how people see your company without looking at it directly.

Determine Your Customer Base

Every marketing strategy starts by determining your customer base. Targeting a certain group of people is an effective way to increase your popularity and to draw more customers in. A lot of marketing strategies are based on this premise. So it has to be right since a lot of serious business are employing it.Targeting a specific group of people is a lot easier than trying to target all of them. Of course, everybody would like to have an all-around marketing strategy that affects all types of people, but it is virtually impossible to make. This is why if you determine the customers base early on and try to influence them, your moving business popularity will improve greatly. 

Whilst starting a business may seem like a great idea, it is important to note that you should be 100% sure in your decision before you decide to quit your job. However, if you choose to commit to opening a business, here are some ideas that might help you get started.

Food Businesses

The reason why the food empire is mentioned on our list first should be a no-brainer – people need food to survive. Not only that, but also the number of people who have specific diets is on the rise. For many reasons, more and more people are shifting to a vegan (or vegetarian) lifestyle. There reasons range from personal to environmental, but the fact is that people in the UK are eating less meat. However, there simply aren’t enough restaurants to cater to the people who are living a meat-free lifestyle. As a result, opening a food business that provides options for vegetarians or vegans might just be the thing that puts you above competition.

Online Flower Shop

While we might not need them for survival as we need food, opening your own online flower shop can still be a lucrative business. Flowers have always been very popular and the popularity doesn’t look like it’s going to fade any time soon. Likewise, buying and delivering flowers online is easier than ever. For example, the HandyFlowers online flower shop started as a small business, but grew rapidly and is now the leading site for flower delivery in London. Flowers are always going to be a classic, timeless gift, so opening your own flower business might be the best thing for you.

Eco-friendly Business

We’re all aware of the impact humans have made on Earth. Unfortunately, it’s not a very good one. Our oceans are filled with plastic, and climate change is more noticeable than ever before. Thankfully, many people became aware of this problem. In fact, we were introduced to the “Trash Tag Challenge” in 2019, where people would come together to clean up their communities. The green/eco-friendly trend is definitely on the rise. Many people are opting to use less plastic (or don’t use it at all), and switch to natural, recyclable materials. This could be the perfect opportunity to open an eco-friendly business. Creating reusable or recyclable products that can replace plastic and other toxic materials is not only great for the environment, but also for your wallet. If you want to do your part in saving the planet, this might be the way to go!

Coffee Shop

Let’s face it, everyone loves coffee. Whether people drink it for the taste or the quick pick-me-up is irrelevant. While coffee shops used to be for friendly hangouts or romantic dates, more and more people are visiting them for business meetings. On the same note, many freelancers who work from home like to change the scenery and go work in the local coffee shop. Opening your own coffee shop can be a very lucrative business in 2019. And yes, you can also serve tea. 

Online Clothing Store

Even though big brands retain the monopoly on clothing items, research shows that there is a steady increase in demand for online clothing stores. Essentially, there are two ways to go about this:

Low-priced, generic clothing – With inexpensive clothing, the goal is to reach the most people you can with fast fashion.

Designer clothing – For designer clothing, you can charge a higher price. However, if you are not an experienced designer, this might not be as good of an idea as it might sound. Simple and fast delivery, all from the comfort of the buyer’s home, makes online shopping a paradise compared to spending hours in overpriced stores in person.

Should You Open Your Own Business?

As previously mentioned, opening your own business is always going to be a risk. However, there are people who simply aren’t cut out for the 9-5 office job. In that case, starting a business is one of the best things you can do. Here are some signs that an office job might not be the optimal career path for you:

You Hate Being Told What to Do

If you get irritated when you are told to attend a meeting, or to work on a project you don’t like, this could be a warning sign. By “being your own boss”, you assign work to yourself, and you set your own priorities.

You Don’t Want to Live a Regimented Life

Maybe you’re a night owl, or you are chronically late to work – whatever the reason might be, some people simply don’t like going to (and leaving) work at the same time. Maybe it’s the routine that’s setting you off. In any case, if you don’t feel like you want to work the same hours every day for the rest of your life, it might be a good time to quit.

You Feel Trapped in the Office

Maybe the most important warning sign of all – you hate working in a cubicle. Some people simply need the space and freedom to do their own thing. Working in a small office can have a bad impact on your mental health and, if you need a breath of fresh air – literally and figuratively – you might want to get out of that job.

Starting the Business

Starting your own business can be scary, but it is also very exciting! Being your own boss comes with a lot of benefits and you will learn many new skills along the way. Whether you choose to open an online flower shop, a restaurant, or something completely different, you should always aim to pick a business idea you actually like. Find out what that is and everything should go smoothly afterward. Good luck!

Real businesses, real experiences.

Making the leap from stock imagery to original photography.

Fiona Burrage, Photographer  

Why do images matter? As a photographer and creative director, I spend a lot of time thinking about images. What do they say about the brand or person they represent? And how can we use them to change perceptions and maximise engagement?

Over the years I’ve noticed that businesses often rely too heavily on stock images that can feel outdated, impersonal and irrelevant. They don’t always understand that photography offers a major opportunity to shape how their brand is perceived.

Images are powerful. If you want to create hard-working brand communications that drive people to engage with your business, you need to use images that stand out, and stick. Hiring a photographer allows you to create bespoke brand imagery for your business.

A good photographer will work collaboratively with you in order to deliver the images most closely aligned with your vision and personality. By using documentary-style photography, for example, you show people what it’s like inside your business, as well as what happens when your products and services go out into the world.

What does this look like? I’d like to share two relevant client case studies that demonstrate this approach, pictured above.

The first, D Clinic, is a dental practice in Marylebone. Their stand-out, architecture-designed interiors were integral to their unique brand offer. Stock imagery could never have captured such a meticulous eye for detail and the serene atmosphere of the rooms.

The second example is Computer Service Centre, the leading IT company in the East of England. Following the industry standard, they could have easily reverted to stock imagery of generic computers. Yet, we worked together to create a series of reportage-style photographs that showcase the team doing what they do best.

The process All photographers work differently but here’s a bit about how my own process works:

During the briefing session, I talk to the client about the image applications they require and the platforms they use. I also ask the right questions to ensure the new imagery will present the most aspirational and engaging version of the brand. Following the shoot, I share a selection of images with the client and together we make a final shortlist, to be retouched and supplied as hi-res files. I provide a quote ahead of the shoot, so clients know the total cost before we get started.

And finally… Sometimes stock imagery might be the best solution in the limited time you have available. If you need to use it, think carefully about what you buy. Try to choose images that feel as modern, fresh and relevant as possible.

https://www.fionaburrage.com/ https://nor-folk.com/