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  • 7 Ways To Promote Your Travel Agency on Instagram

    7 Ways To Promote Your Travel Agency on Instagram

    Since launching in late 2010, Instagram has managed to capture the imagination and creativity of social media fans everywhere. It has evolved to become much more than just another photo-sharing app and has become a fundamental marketing channel for businesses across different industries.

    While food, fashion, and fitness brands are some of Instagram’s biggest users, the travel industry is another sector that is a picture-perfect match for what the platform offers. After all, the social media network’s image-centric functionality is more than ideal for photos of exotic and distant locations, tropical beaches, and the nightlife of big cities.

    If you own or manage a travel agency, it would be a shame to overlook what Instagram can do for your business. Statistics show that 48% of people pick a travel destination based on photos from Instagram while 35% use the app to become aware of new tourist destinations.

    Want to make Instagram work for you? Here are seven ways to capitalize on Instagram:

    1. Be Consistent

    Consistency means coming out with regular posts and maintaining the same look and feel across your content. You can mix things up once in a while but ensure that most of your posts remain aligned with your brand and the services you offer.

    A good way to be consistent is to create a list of attributes that you want your photos to have. You should also create an Instagram calendar so you can map out how often you’ll need content and plan for them in advance.

    2. Keep Your Content Fresh

    Fresh content is relevant and updated content. If you’re posting outdated information about a travel destination that you provide services for, you can lose credibility with your followers and it may frustrate viewers visiting your profile.

    Before posting anything, always ask yourself, “What do I want to accomplish with this post?” and “How does this help me accomplish the objectives of my marketing plan?” You should never post just to meet a certain quota or to tick it off your checklist. Always make sure that your content is relevant for your audience and takes you one step closer to meeting your marketing goals.

    3. Post High-Resolution Images

    When you’re scrolling on Instagram, what’s the one thing that can make you stop and pause for a while? More often than not, it’s the quality and beauty of an image. Since Instagram is a visual platform, the quality and resolution of your images are paramount to getting more followers.

    You could also share pictures of your staff’s own travel experiences to humanize your brand and connect better with your followers.

    If you’re looking for high-quality templates for Instagram posts, PosterMyWall has over 150,000 social media templates, including templates for Instagram posts and Instagram stories. These templates are sized to fit the ideal resolutions of social media platforms like Instagram.

    4. Leverage Stories

    Stories are a great way to interact and engage with your followers while achieving brand awareness.

    You can use stories to collect feedback from your followers through polls, sliders, quick response emojis, or quizzes.

    You could also use this feature to post real-time content of you or your colleague’s travel experiences and give your followers more insight into your business and services or share your travel poster designs for people to learn more about what you offer.

    5. Use the Right Hashtags

    People generally use hashtags to find out more about a particular place or topic of interest. When leveraged correctly, hashtags can maximize your account’s reach tremendously by reaching target audiences who may not necessarily be your followers. You can also create a unique hashtag for your account and request your clients to use them in their posts when sharing their experience on Instagram.

    6. Use Videos

    Videos are a great way of pitching your content to a wider audience. While IGTV is a great way to share longer video clips, reels are all the rage on Instagram. When presented appropriately with the right audio, it has the potential to boost engagement within minutes.

    Use videos to post travel tips, travel guides, or recommended destinations to grab hold of your followers’ attention.

    7. Leverage Influencers and Paid Advertisements

    Advertising your brand and services is a great way to promote your travel agency. You can do this by collaborating with a well-known influencer who has a large following or by using Instagram Ads.

    Conclusion

    These are some of the best ways to promote your travel agency on Instagram. Increasing your followers is a key factor that can make or break your marketing efforts. Engaging with your followers, posting regularly, and using high-quality content are some of the best ways to build your Instagram presence organically.

    If you’re looking for top-quality images and templates for your posts, PosterMyWall has several that are easy to use and customize according to your needs.

  • Types And Variations Of Business Loans

    Types And Variations Of Business Loans

    There are different types of commercial fundings. This is because different businesses seek different types of funds, small-term, quick funding, long term bulk amount, etc. it is solely dependent on the type of business and business requirement on which your business loans differ. Here are the most common types of business funding or loans available in the market.

    SBA Loans

    These loans are particularly guaranteed by Small Business Administration. Not only banks but even private lenders offer SBA loans. The purpose of the SBA loans decides the repayment tenure, like loans for working capital are available with a repayment period of 7 years, equipment SBA loans of 10 years, or real estate purchase loans could be up to 25. With SBA loans you can borrow up to $5 million. These loans are especially useful for enterprises looking to expand and are meant for strong credit borrowers since these are heavy loans.

    Term Loans

    Looking for fast funding and ready loan approval for a major amount, a term loan can be your pick. Easy to avail from online lenders, you can opt for an amount of up to $1million. However, when you seek a term loan, it might call for collateral (an asset such as a property or business) or a personal guarantee.

    Business lines of credit

    If you are seeking a rather flexible mode of funding, a business line of credit could be your option. This type of loan allows you to access funding up to your credit limit without any collateral. However, this type of loan is unsecured, and it can also involve processing and maintenance fee, which adds up to your returnable fund amount. However to fetch this kind of fund, you need to showcase strong credit and revenue, and if you can, it’s a pretty reliable way of accessing short-term needs of finance.

    Invoice factoring

    Many businesses are dependent on payments from customers. If your business has unpaid customer invoices, which are tentatively due for payment in 60 days, invoice factoring can be helpful for you. Its simply selling the invoices to a factoring company that pays you all the due amount for the time and collects the same from according customers as per the due timing of their invoices.

    Therefore, while you get your money, the factoring company stays responsible for collecting the money. Hassle-free approval and fast funding make this a great deal for many businesses.

    Invoice financing

    Quite similar to that of invoice factoring, in this case, all you do is submit the invoices to the funding company as collateral for advance financing. However, you need to keep in mind that the financing company is not responsible for liquifying the invoices, so you need to take up the responsibility, by returning the funds.

    Equipment/Auto loans

    In the case of many businesses’ investment in equipment or automobiles for transportation and delivery of goods is essential, you can acquire equipment or auto loans, as per the valuation of the equipment or the automobile. The interest rates as well might vary as per the valuation of the equipment. While you own the equipment or automobile and you can use it for business to build equity, the bank or finance institute keeps it as collateral. Therefore, the terms of these kinds of loans are depended on the tentative life span of the equipment.

    Fundings are something that is an inevitable part of life, while sometimes you need them on a small scale and at other times at a large scale. However, when you are seeking business loans, it is always wise to compare the rates, risks, terms, provisions, prepayment penalty, processing fee, details beforehand etc.. So, even if you are unable to do the research all alone, financial advisors or professionals can be of great help.

  • How to Make Travel Videos for YouTube

    How to Make Travel Videos for YouTube

    Making travel videos for YouTube has become increasingly easy with the availability of small, lightweight, and powerful video capture equipment. Many devices can fit in your pocket or bag yet produce high-definition footage. There are even some great resources online to help you get started on this creative journey; below are some useful tips that will hopefully make it easier to take that first step into making travel videos for YouTube.

    1. Get Creative! – Let’s face it, not everyone is a creative genius, but one thing all creative geniuses have in common is the ability to be original. The best way to show off your creativity if you don’t feel like you’re artistic or imaginative at heart is to find a creative outlet. Doing something like this will allow you to be original and produce videos that will stand out from the sea of people doing the same thing.
    2. Showcase Something Unique – If you’re in a city or country that sees frequent tourism, there is nothing wrong with showing off these areas but try to show it from a different perspective than everyone else has. The Lonely Planet guides for various regions around the world can give you some good ideas and inspiration and even lead to some great story ideas.
    3. Be Realistic – You may have big dreams and aspirations when it comes to travel videos for YouTube, but don’t set yourself up for disappointment by trying to do too much all at once; especially if you’re just getting started. Try to stick with the goals you’ve set, such as simply capturing good footage and learning how to edit it well.
    4. Pace Yourself – If your goal is to make travel videos for YouTube, this does not mean you need to upload a new video every day or even every week; there’s nothing wrong with taking breaks for a little bit and coming back fresh and recharged. This will keep your motivation up and keep you from burning out; both of which are common pitfalls among those making videos online.
    5. Promote – What would Facebook be if nobody shared anything? Get friends, family, even strangers to watch your videos! Share on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and others; or share on sites like Reddit and StumbleUpon. An easy way to get your videos in front of more people is to include links back to them in the description section if enabled by hosting sites like YouTube.
    6. Be Passionate – If you enjoy what you’re doing it will show through in your work. People are drawn to passion, so have fun with it! This should be a fun hobby for you, not another source of stress or burden.
    7. Get Creative with Video Equipment – The best quality will always come from dedicated devices designed specifically for capturing video, but there are many small pocket-sized cams available that can do just fine when shooting travel videos for YouTube. Consider using a tripod and monopod to steady the frame (both of these can be found on Amazon) and even consider getting some accessories like lavalier or shotgun microphones.
    8. Get Creative with Video Editing – There are many editing options out there; while some may be free, others cost money. Consider upgrading if you want to have more control over your video’s authenticity. Also, remember to add music to your video to make it more entertaining!
    9. Have Fun! – Do not forget that making travel videos should still be fun, so go out there and get creative!

    Things You Need Before Creating Your First Travel Video

    Before starting to film your first travel video, you might need to purchase some equipment. This is not an exhaustive list, but should give you a general idea of the items you might need:

    1. Video Camera. This can be anything from a DSLR to a GoPro, or even your iPhone or Android phone.
    2. Tripod. This will help keep your camera steady while filming and is especially important if you’re using a smaller camera or phone.
    3. Monopod. A monopod is essentially just a one-legged tripod and can be helpful if you want more mobility when filming.
    4. Video editing tool. There are plenty of online tools that can make your video look like it was professionally made.
    5. External microphone. These are especially important if you’ll be filming in an area with a lot of background noise (like near waterfalls, for example).
    6. Lavalier microphone. This is useful when you need to record the sound of your voice, but don’t want to use camera audio or external microphones.
    7. Shotgun microphone. Shotgun microphones will pick up sounds in front of them while eliminating most background noise. If you’re filming in very quiet areas where camera audio will be sufficient, this might not be necessary; however, they can come in handy when filming outside in windy conditions or around waterfalls and other loud scenes where lavaliers won’t work well.
    8. Wind protection accessories/equipment. When recording outside with any sort of microphone, you’ll need to think about wind. There are many ways you can go about this; just be sure not to use any sort of object between the microphone and the subject because it will pick up audio sounds from right behind it as well!
    9. Lighting equipment. If filming in low-light conditions, having a good lighting kit is always helpful. LED lights can also help if you want to give your footage a unique tone or set them inside a tent at night for ambient light that won’t ruin your night vision.

    Can’t wait to start creating your travel videos for YouTube? We hope these tips will help get you started on the right foot. Remember to have fun with it and let your personality shine through. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy your travels!

  • Safe and Fun Exercise for Seniors

    Safe and Fun Exercise for Seniors

    When you hear the term “exercise”, do you cringe a little? There’s no need to fear because there are fun ways to exercise that won’t give you joint pain or other health issues that come with age. Idaho Falls Assisted Living is committed to the health of seniors who live at their facility and wants the best for each individual’s overall well being. Below is a list of exercises and with a description of what they are and benefits that come with each type of exercise.

    Exercises for seniors

    Water aerobics helps you to increase in strength, flexibility and balance with hardly any other force on your body. This form of exercise is ideal for seniors with arthritis or any other body pain.

    Chair yoga involves stretching and chairs which is helpful to have less stress on joints and muscles. Yoga is good for the body and the mind which has been proven to improve mental health in seniors. Other benefits are improved well-being, sleep and mental health.

    Resistance band workouts use bands that add resistance to yoru workout. This type of exercise can be done in a group with others or from the comfort of your own home. These workouts can add strength to your core and improve your posture.

    Pilates is also low-impact and has many components such as core strength, breathing techniques and concentration. Accessories that are used during pilates workouts are pilates balls and yoga mats. This type of exercise helps to build core stretch and flexibility.

    Walking strengthens muscles and lowers the chances of developing heart problems, diabetes, colon cancer and stroke. It is advised to take 10,000 steps in a day because it can increase your mortality by 46%. It’s very easy to walk and invite a few friends to do it with you.

    Body weight workouts don’t include using weights to exercise. You rely on using your own body weight while doing different exercises to strengthen your body, increase flexibility and improve overall health. You don’t need to use weights to help you achieve your health goals. Affordability is another factor that makes body weight workouts more appealing to seniors. Muscle atrophy is common in older adults and body weight workouts help to prevent this issue.

    Dumbbell strength training allows individuals to isolate muscle groups while exercising. Strength training has countless benefits like weight management, alleviating back pain and increased metabolism. Using lighter weights for strength training is also much safer and can be very effective for muscle growth.

    Exercises to avoid if you’re over 65 years old

    • Squats with weight
    • Bench or leg press
    • Long-distance running
    • Ab crunches
    • Deadlift
    • HIIT (high intensity interval training)
    • Rock climbing

    Seniors are cautioned from doing the exercises listed above because they increase the chance of doing the exercise incorrectly with potentially hurting the joints or other muscles. High intensity interval training (HIIT) can potentially cause falls and affect a person’s balance after completing a workout. This can be a danger to someone older than 65 years old because their bones are more fragile and recovery can take longer.

  • How To Choose Your Hair Supplies That Can Comprehend Your Shampoo?

    How To Choose Your Hair Supplies That Can Comprehend Your Shampoo?

    In recent years, the world’s largest hair supply companies have begun to develop custom hair-type products. When you choose one and need to buy it, read the review of the recommended hair supplies and their specifications. It is advised to do so to choose the best product for your hair – for a healthy, shiny, blossom hair look.

    Does Your Hair Product Fit You?

    When using an unknown hair supply, you may face various problems such as itching or dryness. That doesn’t mean the shampoo or the manufacturer sucks. It only indicates that this range of products is no more a fit for you. It’s worth trying something else. It happens that your favorite shampoo does not fit anymore. Don’t get upset! It is only that the body is used and saturated, so it gives such a “signal” that it is time to change the tool used.

    What Is The Impact Of Your Shampoo?

    Our shampoo has a real impact on hair quality. Today, dozens of different types of hair products can be seen on the shelf – depending on the type of hair. To choose the best hair supplies, you should research well the different types of shampoos in the market that received recommendations for different hair types and reported a high level of satisfaction. So it’s high time to replenish and go out to purchase a quality shampoo that is exactly tailored to your needs.

    Hair Loss Shampoo

    The shampoo for hair loss keeps the scalp clean and healthy. The extract of the various organic plants such as the nettle plant reduces inflammatory processes in the scalp. It consequently improves the rate of blood flow. In addition to delaying the dropout process, it contains salicylic acid, which allows dealing effectively with dandruff. For better results, some hair supplies can be used with these high-quality and innovative components.

    Salt-Free Shampoo

    This kind of shampoo can retain the natural oil as well as provides natural moisture to the hair. By using this shampoo, you can prevent itching on the scalp as well as dandruff. This shampoo does not form foams. So, its action is a thorough cleaning operation.

    Wavy-Curly Hair Shampoo

    Curly, wavy hair tends to swell after the overlapping process, so using shampoos that are adapted to curly wavy hair, it is possible to provide the hair with moisture and minerals that give the hair shine and vitality.

    Keratin Shampoo

    After a smoothing process, it is recommended to use shampoo to smooth hair that has been smoothed. It is a shampoo that is rich in keratin and is very suitable for smooth hair that has undergone a chemical process.

    Dry Hair Shampoo

    Dry hair shampoo is designed to address the dryness problem caused by factors such as the weather, use of a hairdryer, dyeing it, etc. Daily use of substances intended to treat the problem and shampoo for dry hair can restore the vitality and shine of your hair. Dry hair shampoo is rich in extracts that give hair a fresh and healthy look.

    Damaged Hair Shampoo

    Enriched with extracts and minerals that are ibex for improving the appearance of hair, and strengthening the root of the hair. A unique shampoo that allows to maintain the natural oil and sebum over time as well as rehabilitate it after chemical action.

    Ecological Shampoo

    One of the hottest innovations in the field is an ecological shampoo that is detox-free and consists only of natural and organic materials. Rich in extracts and minerals, which help reduce dandruff significantly.

    Summary

    It is recommended for both women and men who suffer from dehydration in hair, dandruff, and hair loss. A good hair supply can comprehend your shampoo and resolve your problem depending on the different conditions of your hair type.

  • 4 Practical Tips to Find the Most Suitable Fit Out Companies

    4 Practical Tips to Find the Most Suitable Fit Out Companies

    Are you contemplating on relocating your office? Are you interested in changing the interior décor of the shop to avoid boredom? Then it is essential to recruit the best fit out companies for the purpose. But how would you identify the company that will be suitable for your needs? Continue reading this post to know how to save yourself from making the wrong moves and creating the project altogether.

    Focus on quality

    The popular fit out companies usually display their previous projects on the company’s website and even on social media sites.

    • Look through these projects and see whether you like the setup with respect to the nature of the business.
    • Do you notice any similarities between the projects? If yes, then you should not stop there, as the company may be lacking in ideation.
    • Go through the images to see the quality of finishing. Flawless finishing will be an indication of the high quality of work.

    Some of the premium fit out companies will even provide information on the duration of the projects as well as the cost. It will help you to gather a thorough idea about the work standard.

    Consider the experience

    A lot of companies are offering fit-out services owing to the surge in demand from commercial houses. But experience is one of the vital factors you must not ignore while looking for the right company.

    • When a company spends a considerable number of years in the industry, the company already knows the general work process of various commercial spaces. As a result, such fit out companies can come up with more innovative ideas to maintain the functionality with regards to various aesthetic upgrades.
    • Old companies that are popular in the industry will never compromise with the service quality as these companies will never sacrifice reputation by degrading the service quality.
    • Consistency in the standard of work is apparent in the top companies as they like to maintain the image of the brand.

    Precisely, it is a good idea to depend on the experienced fit out companies that won’t ruin the renovation project.

    Health and safety compliance

    When you are designing the interior of the office, you have to be very careful about the safety of the space. The employees must have a safe physical space for working. The expert fit-out specialists can develop simple yet clever ideas to add safety features at every point in the building.

    A thorough discussion with the team will be necessary to understand the working mechanism of these safety features. At no cost would you like to make the office space dangerous or inconvenient in any way to the employees.

    Transparency is mandatory

    Brand new office refurbishment or establishment can be a matter of big investment. So, you must choose the reliable fit out companies that maintain much transparency in the transactions.

    • Pay close attention to the initial interactions to determine whether the contractor is polite or rude.
    • Is the contractor showing an interest in your project? If not, it may imply that the contractor regards your project as one of the average standard ones without much significance.

    Fair and honest communication throughout the service period is mandatory to ensure that you are aware of the project’s progress and any changes in the plan.

    Complementary mentality

    One of the biggest achievements of the top-notch fit out companies is in achieving client satisfaction. You can also read the reviews to know what the clients think of any company. If you find assurance and satisfaction in the tone of the feedbacks of maximum clients, then you can proceed with the second round of discussion and price considerations. In a nutshell, a little homework is all that you must do to such company and opt for the best one!

  • Do You Need to Hire a Bankruptcy Attorney for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

    Do You Need to Hire a Bankruptcy Attorney for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

    One of the most common types of bankruptcy in the US is Chapter 7. The appeal of Chapter 7 is that it comes into effect now, rather than drag on for years like Chapter 13. However, Chapter 7 does mean taking a serious financial hit, not to mention the impact it has on your credit score.

    While it is possible to represent yourself in your Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, the question is if you really want to. In collaboration with bankruptcy experts from the Law Offices of Mark L. Miller, we have compiled a list of reasons why you probably want a bankruptcy attorney with you during your bankruptcy.

    Free Consultation with a Bankruptcy Attorney

    Before you outright reject the idea of having an attorney representing you, perhaps you should take advantage of a free consult which is offered by many attorneys out there. During these initial consults, a bankruptcy attorney may give you some advice and suggest the best strategy for your specific case.

    If, after this, you decide to go alone, you will at least be equipped with some additional knowledge and professional tips. However, chances are that you are not fully equipped to handle what is about to happen.

    The Red Tape

    If you have decided to file for bankruptcy, you should know that you are in for some really complex and complicated problems. You will need to go through your financial records with attention to detail and knowledge of what is important and what isn’t.

    For most people, this is a bit too much, which is why bankruptcy attorneys exist – they are skilled and experienced in dealing with these details which most people find confusing and difficult.

    People who decide to go through the process alone have about two-thirds success rate, which is not bad, but it does require a lot from you. On the other hand, people who go into Chapter 7 bankruptcy with an attorney present have a staggering 96.2% success rate, which is a significant boost, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute.

    What Does a Bankruptcy Lawyer Do?

    There is a lot more that an attorney can do for you other than file your claim for bankruptcy and arguing it before the court, although that is probably the best reason to have one at your side.

    However, most people look at the practical things that their attorney can do for them. One thing most people filing for bankruptcy are probably tired of are the constant calls from creditors. Your attorney can help you defend from these people. Once you file for bankruptcy, your attorney can stop those calls right away.

    After the Bankruptcy

    Once the whole process is over, you will likely have lost some assets, but you will be free of debt. This is the time when you need to start rebuilding your credit score and remedy your reputation. You should listen to the advice your attorney gives you and in time you can get back to your normal life.

    However, it is always possible that some of your creditors will attempt to cash in on the debt that was written off, hoping that your inexperience means that they can swindle you.

    Your bankruptcy attorney can help with that. Talk to them and make sure that the debt was, in fact, written off. Once you establish that, the attorney can ensure that the creditors stop harassing you.

    Whatever way you decide to go into your bankruptcy, you should know that this step, although drastic, can be an introduction into a new chapter of your life. All you have to do is take that initial step and follow a few simple rules, and you can get back to your normal life.

  • Building Your Dream Home: Here Are Tips For Hiring Builders

    Building Your Dream Home: Here Are Tips For Hiring Builders

    It can be very daunting to start building a house; therefore, you must choose perfect builders to help you make your dream come true. There are a lot of things that are involved in building a perfect house, and many preparations are done for the same. Besides, it takes not only days but, in some cases, even years to build the house to perfection. For this purpose, you must hire the best builders working with you to get the most of your house. Therefore, as you understand choosing the best builders is important and must be done perfectly. Here is a list of some of the important tips that you need to take into consideration for finding the best builder.

    References

    The first thing that you should do to make sure that you have perfect builders for your house is look at references. References allow you to look at the work the builders have done previously and assess whether they will be able to bring your image to life. References are also a great way of understanding the terms and conditions of the builders. For example, you can ask previous clients whether the work was done in time and what kind of guarantees were offered. These pieces of information come in very handy when you are deciding which builder to choose. Therefore, you should necessarily consider the references before finally deciding which builder you would hire.

    Credentials

    We have all heard stories where contractors run away after taking the money for your house, or they pose to be someone else to scam you. Therefore, to save yourself from such scams, you must check the credentials of the potential builders. You can easily contact a regulatory agency and have them run your builders’ number. If they show up on the roster you are safe; if not, you should search for other builders. Credentials will not only guarantee the safety of your money but will also affirm the knowledge and technical skills of the builders. Therefore, it is necessary to look at the credentials of the builders.

    Compare Prices

    To be able to pick the best builder, the first thing you have to do is compare the prices of the builders as there is a possibility that one builder may charge you more for the same work. However, there have been many cases where builders quote exorbitantly high prices; therefore, to protect yourself from this fraud, it is best to compare the price of different builders. This way, you can use your money on the decoration of your house rather than giving it to the builder.

    Insurance

    There are times when things can go wrong, and the situations can go out of hand, eventually leading to severe accidents on a construction site. Therefore, you must hire only those builders who have comprehensive insurance for their workers. Insurance will not only protect the rights of the workers but will also limit your liability. If any mishap happens and there is no insurance in place, you may end up bearing the full liability. Hence, to avoid this cost and make the work environment safer for the workers, you should choose only builders who have insurance.

    Everything In Writing

    Builders scamming people is a very common phenomenon. Hence if you want to make sure that you are protected in all respects, the best way is to make sure that everything is in writing. This will make it enforceable even for the builder. Hence, the best way is to draw up exhaustive contracts covering all possibilities.

    Therefore, these are some essential tips that will help you in hiring the best builders for your projects.

  • Breaking Through The Supply Chain Blues

    Breaking Through The Supply Chain Blues

    As a specialty coffee roaster and coffee shop owner, one of our prime goals is to cultivate and serve discriminating consumers.  In this quest for excellence, the quality of the coffees we source is paramount because that’s where it all starts. You can’t “add” quality to a coffee through your roasting and brewing process, just as a chef can’t take bad ingredients and make a great dish. So this is where it starts.

    However, outstanding coffee service also relies on a complex supply chain.  Not just the sourcing of coffees, but also a whole host of specialty items, including ingredients for coffee drinks, food items, paper products, food service equipment and marketing materials and “merch.”  Like similar businesses, the pandemic continues to stress product availability, cost structure, and customer service. These issues include material costs, lead times and inventory.

    In almost all supply areas, material costs continue to increase almost daily, notably impacting everyone’s product margins. In addition, lead times are also rising dramatically on items such as paper cups, sleeves and lids (paper products), equipment and merchandise, making it challenging to maintain normal stocking levels.

    As a result, we are forced to try and secure larger size orders of commonly used items when we can.  However, having to resort to alternative sourcing (something we obviously rather not do) creates additional hardships for smaller operators in terms of storage, inventory management and cash flow.  For example, we are now facing a 20-week lead time on our custom printed sleeves and cups, meaning we need to keep at least a seven-month supply of all these items. This significant amount of product now requires additional storage and cash flow.

    With respect to ingredients, the supply of alternative kinds of milk, oat milk, in particular, has become incredibly inconsistent, while demand is surging. As a result, we sometimes struggle to keep it in stock, let alone at a reasonable cost.

    How do we respond?

    Clearly, there is a delicate balance to be achieved regarding supply chain issues, something with which the broader hospitality and food service industries are struggling.  Strikingly, there have even been rumors of bagel shops in New York unable to source needed restaurant-grade cream cheese!

    Initially, there is a tendency (maybe even an attraction) to cutting back on product offerings and skimping on physical service items.  Don’t be so generous with toppings.  Make the napkins a bit scarce.  Costs are saved.  We all know the feeling when we are on the other hand, as a consumer of such a strategy.  Unfortunately, “skimping” seriously risks product quality, customer acceptance and greater brand equity.

    Branding, in particular, is of special interest. While the issue at first glance might seem trivial, it really isn’t.  How important are branded wares as marketing materials, and to the customer’s perception of the quality of coffee they’re paying for?  In theory, the cup is only the book’s cover, and its contents are all that matter. Still, in reality, we know that the look and feel of the coffee service, including those branded wares, are all part of the customer experience and perception of quality.

    There is no easy answer here, as supply chain issues may persist for some time, especially in an inflationary economy.  Instead, we must view the present time as an opportunity to re-examine our product lineup, cost structure, procedures, drink recipes, etc.  Can we streamline our product offerings?  Adjust recipes in ways that don’t impact overall product quality?  Be more economical with supplies on the non-customer-facing side of our business?  When do new sources make sense, being mindful of not wanting to disrupt existing long-term supplier relationships if at all possible?  For example, could we produce our oat and almond milks in-house subject to local restaurant regulations?  In answer to an issue just discussed, can we improvise quality labeling locally that we apply to generic coffee cups, napkins or menus that sustain our hard-earned brand equity?

    Regardless, we must never compromise our core product of coffee and our customer service. However, if we present some of the issues discussed forthrightly and honestly, I do believe our customers will understand and reward us with their continued patronage and loyalty.

    About Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters

    Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters has one location in Rochester, one in Detroit, and one in Royal Oak. The company roasts coffee in-house daily and bakes its desserts every day. Dessert Oasis strives to deliver an unrivaled coffee, dessert, and entertainment experience through close attention to detail, an unbelievable knack for quality, and intense love for our communities. Crain’s Detroit Business recently recognized President and Director of Coffee Nathan Hamood for his passion for coffee, business acumen and commitment to the community by being included in Crain’s 20 in their 20s Class of 2021.

  • Hiring A Corporate Transportation Service for Your Client

    Hiring A Corporate Transportation Service for Your Client

    When it comes to business transportation, corporate executives and business travelers understand that the value these services provide is well worth the cost. Having a pleasant and dependable means of transportation is essential whether you’re rushing to an important meeting or picking up your company’s partners for a business lunch.

    In order to understand this a bit better, we spoke to black car professionals at Cardiff Limousine & Transport. Here’s what they had to say.

    Pick the Right Company

    With so many transportation and limo services out there, it may be a bit difficult to pick through the rubble to find the suitable company. It’s not uncommon for people to just purchase a used SUV or sedan and declare themselves to be a professional transportation service.

    Apart from their obvious lack of experience and etiquette needed to be a professional chauffeur, they don’t have the insurance necessary to provide you with peace of mind. It’s useful to know that all professional chauffeurs working for reputable corporate transportation services are subject to background checks and have extensive training in both driving skills and etiquette.

    After all, in California, professional chauffeurs do need to have a specialized chauffeur permit, apart from the regular driver’s license. You wouldn’t want anyone without those skills operating a car you or your business partners are in.

    Why You Need a Car Pickup for Your Client

    The primary goal of a corporate transportation service is to save time, and people go for this type of service because they value their own time and understand that time is money. Wasting time lost in a congested metropolis or navigating the roads you may not know so well can not only waste your time, but cause additional stress and anxiety – neither of which you want before your meeting with a client.

    However, a more important reason why people hire professional chauffeurs for their business partners and clients is more straightforward – they are trying to impress them. Or at least leave a positive first impression. This can help a lot when it comes to negotiations or a difficult meeting that might await you. Putting your client at ease will certainly help, especially if the car service you choose offers additional amenities, such as free Wi-Fi, beverages, or great sound systems.

    How the Process Goes

    Hiring a business transportation service is fairly easy and straightforward. If you choose a professional service, your reservation will be confirmed at least 24 hours ahead of time and that’s just about everything that is expected from you.

    You can expect the driver to arrive at least 10 minutes early and wait for you or your client. They will inform you of their arrival and wait for the client they are intended to pick up. They’ll also keep track of their flight and, in the event that it is delayed.

    What Amenities You Should Expect

    Depending on the type of vehicle you choose, there are certain amenities that you really should expect from your limo rental company. Naturally, as the class of the vehicle goes up, so does the number of amenities. However, there are certain things that you should always get.

    A well-maintained vehicle where you can relax, read your emails, listen to a podcast, take phone calls or simply enjoy the view of the city is a given. On top of that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is hugely important that the vehicles are not only cleaned, but also disinfected between clients.

    Now that your client is enjoying the premier airport transport experience, all there is to do is be ready to dazzle them in your meeting.