So what do you get the man who has everything? Well, probably a condolence card I imagine. There is nothing more boring than being totally complete, and luckily it is almost impossible. No matter how much a man – or woman for that matter – seems to have, there’s always going to be room for something else interesting in their lives. So, what do you get the man who has a hell of a lot?
Presents for Men
Men always make complaints that women are hard to buy for, but actually it is always easy to nip down to a shop and get some perfume, some lingerie or a box of chocolates the size of her face. Okay, so that might be simplifying it, but the fact is, women do have a tendency to give off numerous clues as to the kind of things they like, want or need, and if men are still stuck for ideas, there is a good chance it is actually just a case of not putting much thought in.
Styling Your Man
Whether your man loves to step out in style, or whether you’d simply just like him to, once Christmas or birthdays roll around, there are plenty of options for stylish gifts for men.
Clothes are a major reflection of a man’s image, so whether you want to gently guide him towards style or whether he already has plenty of it, they might not be the best area to start.
What Men Really Want
There isn’t really a secret about how best to buy gifts for men. There is no secret code that we have that we don’t tell women about. In fact, quite often we don’t even know ourselves what we want until we have it. And that’s not even the biggest problem when it comes to getting gifts for men. The biggest problem is the fact that all men are different.
The Right Sofa for You
When it comes to searching for the right furniture for your house, there are many options to choose from. This can be both a blessing and a curse, as while you will almost certainly be able to find the right sofa for your living room, with so many to choose from it will be much harder to choose just which one the right one.
The key is understanding what you need from a sofa or suite set. If you have small children or animals, the chances are that practicality will be high up on your list, and you will need to hunt down something that will be easy to clean (or at least hide stains well) as well as being hard wearing and extremely resilient.
For those with modern living areas, there is a good chance that something like a corner sofa will be the perfect asset to your room, offering opulence and an extremely modern feel at the same time.
However for those will a more traditional look to their house, finding the right sofa can be tricky. However, for those who can’t decide then it might be a safe bet to go for one of the most enduring sofa styles, one that still manages to pack an impact all these years on. The Chesterfield Sofa.
Chesterfield Sofas are a truly classic design that symbolise both quality and luxury simultaneously. Both pleasant on the eye and extremely pleasant on the body, Chesterfield Sofas are the perfect addition to any period home, but at the same time have a timeless quality that can be utilised in almost any surroundings.
A Chesterfield Sofa makes a great addition to almost any room. The name and look is synonymous with luxury and comfort, and taking a look at one today could make the sofa buying process a whole lot simpler.
Industrial automation to be used in new processing unit
Industrial automation and control systems are being used at a new industrial unit that has been established in Scotland by Braehead (SFO Enterprises) Ltd.Situated in Bothwell Park Industrial Estate, the shellfish processing facility is to employ more than 60 people and it was recently opened by Scottish government minister Richard Lochhead, the Bellshill Speaker reports.
Industrial automation to feature in new factory
Industrial automation is an integral part of modern business and its evidence is everywhere.One organisation that is set to take advantage of this is Mabey Bridge, which is in the process of implementing control systems.
Taking care of pregnancy
There is a tendency nowadays to take life for granted and expectations are high when it comes to a successful conception, pregnancy and birth. This is only right and proper as medical developments over the past hundred years have made pregnancy and childbirth in the UK, in the 21st Century, safer than ever.
The Dragons’ Den’s unacceptable offer
It was shocking to hear a businessman offer to buy a baby girl from her poor parents in flood-stricken Pakistan this year. The well-known ‘Dragons’ Den’ celebrity, James Caan, was in Pakistan on a mission to find a stricken village to help after the dreadful flooding that devastated the region.
Big Brother Should Be Watching
The idea of a future dystopia where all of our actions are monitors and all of our decisions are made for us is a frightening one. Having everyone constantly monitored is not only an infringement of our civil rights, but also a way to lose all democracy and quickly find ourselves living in a totalitarianism world.
But that’s just in our private lives. In our working lives, we should expect to be held accountable for our actions, and to ensure that our actions are in line with the company’s ethos and general codes of conduct it may be necessary sometimes to conduct some form of monitoring.
There are many ways that companies can be protected from negative working attitudes and acts, from theft and absenteeism through to misconduct and general neglect of duties. However not all of these methods are as effective as they could be, leading staff members to find easy ways around them and still able to carry on regardless.
Whilst private investigations might seem a little farfetched for acts such as absenteeism and theft, they are actually much more common place that you might imagine. Corporate investigations can help vet staff to understand whether or not a workforce is dishonest. These private investigations can not only help to free up manager’s time from dealing with such issues, but they can also help to prove when a member of staff has been negligent or worse.
One of the principal benefits of corporate investigations is that they are fast and effective, whilst also being unbiased meaning that you can be sure that the staff you employ are doing their jobs and doing them right.
Whilst no one wants a world where we are all being watched all the time, no one wants to be taken for a ride either.
Non-traditional consumer approach boosts order fulfillment industry
Recent reports in many British and International trade journals are showing a positive upwards trend for the amount of consumers shopping online and via mail order. In today’s society when many people find themselves time-poor, more and more people are deserting the high street in favour of time-saving mail order services and e-commerce websites. This is welcome news to the order fulfillment and warehousing industries as it means increased demand for their services.
This shift in consumer behaviour has been on the horizon since the advent of the internet and the dot com boom of the early 21st century and is beginning to come to maturity as online and mail order shopping becomes safer, more accessible and more widely accepted as a legitimate alternative to shopping on the high street or in stores. The order fulfillment industry has seen a surge in recruitment as more and more companies move their operations online. From online supermarkets to electrical equipment to fast moving consumer goods, more and more firms are moving their main trading channels away from the high street and into warehousing operations. Accurate, timely and cost-effective order fulfillment solutions are also in high demand; as it is the fulfillment part of the customer journey which is often considered the most important. Accurate order fulfillment allows companies to build trust and strong relationships with customers, generating repeat business, strengthening the company’s brand credibility and increasing profit.
As companies turn to non-traditional retail channels, the demand on warehousing facilities and order fulfillment services is set to grow and grown. In today’s economic climate, this is an extremely fortunate position to be in. Here at ILG, we work with our business partners to provide warehousing services and order fulfillment facilities that provide the infrastructure that is needed in order to help businesses to grow.
Sustainability and direct mail fulfillment
In today’s environmentally-conscious business world; it is becoming increasingly important for companies to consider how sustainable their communications strategies are. One of the main communication channels to come under scrutiny from both government watchdogs and internal company policies is direct mail. This scrutiny directly affects fulfilment services and can often have an impact on the success of a business.
Whilst many companies recognise the need to reduce paper and energy consumption, it is a fact of business that direct mail often garners positive results and is a tried and tested channel of marketing. Many firms have struggled to get the balance right; with some of them drastically culling the amount of direct mail sent out and others being unable to get the balance between direct mail and other channels right. More and more businesses are turning to third party companies to help them manage this in the understanding that if direct mail fulfillment is handled efficiently and correctly, mistakes are reduced which means that not only less resources are used, but there can also be a cost saving for the business. This balance of cost saving, sustainability and accurate direct mail fulfillment can often be the key to hitting both cost saving and environmental business targets.
The increase in popularity of using third party logistics companies to support a company’s fulfilment services team has heralded the dawn of a new era in direct mail fulfillment that can help firms to improve cost efficiency and meet green targets. Here at ILG, we have a proven track record in providing effective direct mail fulfillment solutions to our business partners. We can help our clients to capitalise on any opportunity to retain their existing customers or to build their customer base whilst ensuring their direct mail campaigns are commercially viable, measurably successful and environmentally sustainable.
The logistics of multi channel retailing
Multi-channel communication and multi-channel retailing are becoming increasingly important to successful business strategy. This shift in the way that consumers engage with companies and the increase in the number of channels from which customers can make purchases are reflected in the changes in the logistics and distribution industries. More and more firms are turning to third party logistics companies to help them manage their warehousing needs and to help them fine-tune their order fulfillment strategies.
Every day, new research is being conducted and new strategies for multi channel retailing. Different strands of multi platform marketing are constantly emerging from this research. One strand of marketing and communications that is becoming ever more prevalent is mobile communication. With the advent of smart phones, consumers and prospective customers have more access to the internet than ever before. This means that customers are accessing mobile commerce sites and using mobile applications not only to view products and services on the go, but also to purchase them. This is in addition to an increased amount of customers who are shopping online via websites and is also in addition to more traditional channels of mail order, such as shopping from catalogues or using telephone ordering. With this in mind, several companies are adjusting their order fulfillment processes to accommodate increased and varied patterns of demand upon their supplies, as well as continuing to serve customers and consumers who engage with them through more traditional channels.
It is becoming increasingly evident that businesses need to adapt in order to succeed in this changing market. Mobile commerce and other elements of multi channel retailing are altering the landscape of the order fulfillment industry. Here at ILG, we work alongside our clients to ensure their order fulfillment needs are met and that they receive a solution that is tailored to the individual company.
Warehousing and order fulfillment for new businesses
The advent of the internet and the increasing popularity of auction sites have seen an increase in the number of new businesses starting up. The majority of these new businesses focus on trading and selling goods online. Whilst new businesses can often bring a positive boost to the UK economy, it is important that these new firms realise the importance of logistics strategy and accurate order fulfillment to ensure their continued success.
Many new businesses are becoming victims of their own success; finding that demand simply outstrips their ability to meet order fulfillment requirements, especially if they had envisaged their operation to run at a slower pace in its infancy. Such is the nature of the internet that customer advocacy and word of mouth recommendation generates so much business in today’s market. If a company is providing a great service with quality products, their demand invariably increases because the amount of positive recommendation they receive rises. At this point, many new businesses have struggled with the logistics of meeting customer orders in a timely and accurate fashion. However, those companies that have succeeded have often looked to outsource their order fulfillment and warehousing operations to third party logistics companies. This outsourcing takes pressure off the business itself and they are able to concentrate on generating new business or developing products due to the peace of mind provided by the knowledge that an experienced logistics management company can provide.
Here at the ILG, we work with a variety of business partners, from established large companies to start-up ventures. We ensure that we take time to understand their logistic and warehousing needs in order to provide them with a tailored solution. More and more small new businesses are taking advantage of this and are finding the running of their operation significantly improved because of it.
A Wider Choice of Movies
DVD rental shops often have the same titles repeated over and over again, with very little choice of more specialised movies, or movies that aren’t already in the mainstream conscience. To find these movies, you can spend ages trawling internet sites and ultimately finding you simply have to buy them at inflated prices. Finding classic and obscure films to rent is nearly impossible, and even when you do find them, they’re usually on rental websites, and then you have to wait what seems like forever for the DVD to arrive.
However, there are now more and more legal streaming sites popping up over the internet, which not only offer you the ability to watch movies online as and when you want to, but many of them are also completely free. For those who are tired of watching the same movies that the rental shops often have, having a wider variety of films to choose from is a God send. These sites offer a chance to not only see films that you wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to see or in some cases even hear about, but also do it at no charge and with the great convenience of being able to it anywhere, anytime.
With easy navigation systems of genre or by name, you can easily hunt down those films that you thought you would never get the chance to see again, or simply browse through your favourite style of flicks and enjoy forgotten classics or brand new films that may have slipped under the radar.
For those who want to watch movies online and not waste time going to the post office or pay over the odds for a film they can’t be sure they’ll even like, then there is no better way to get the cinema experience in your own home, without you even having to move a muscle.
Private jet hire for honeymoons
Although there are many reasons why people might opt for private jet hire, one of the most romantic reasons is hiring a private aircraft for a honeymoon. Most couples nowadays opt to have a honeymoon straight after the wedding ceremony where they can spend time together and relax after probably many months of frantic nuptial preparations.
One of the benefits of using a private jet hire service for a honeymoon is that the newly married couple can immediately fly to their honeymoon destination without any airport delays or waiting around in departure lounges. This means that the pair can start enjoying their break almost immediately. By avoiding many of the stresses of everyday airport experiences, couples can arrive at their destination refreshed and ready to start their honeymoon as soon as they land.
Many newly married people want to spend as much time alone together as they possibly can. Flying by private jet hire ensures that they do not have to share their space with dozens of other passengers. Often the noise of other travellers can cause stress and headaches, which mean that by the time they reach their destination, many people are exhausted and harassed. By having the space to themselves, couples can start enjoying the first few hours of married life in privacy and with peace and quiet in an intimate setting.
Using private jet hire for a honeymoon also means that personal touches can be incorporated into the flight. For instance, champagne and chocolates can be ordered for the trip which can add to the ambience and romance of the whole honeymoon experience.
Here at JetAir we can provide luxury private aircraft which are ideal for honeymoons and other romantic trips. Hiring a private aircraft can be a real indulgence which means a couple can start their married life in luxury and style.
Getting the Right Home Lighting
Light plays a major function in many different aspects of our lives. For instance people with Seasonal Affective Disorder can see major benefits from spending more time under certain types of light. Therefore, the amount of light in your home can affect not just the look of the house but your emotions as well.
Home Design – The Best First Impressions
We all know that first impressions last. That they are the stuff that lasting opinions are made from, and can take a lot of hard work and effort to change. So why, when it comes to home design, do so many people forget.
A lot of effort often goes into the interior decoration of the first few rooms – the hallway, the lounge, the kitchen; the areas that people assume will be the first to be seen.
Bathroom Lighting
Is there one way above all others that is the ‘right’ way to light your bathroom? Or is it, like most things in life, a maze of confusing contradictory advice and uncertainty? Well, the truth is, it’s all down to the individual. Not only will different people prefer different sorts of lighting, but the different activities the bathroom is used for will also have a major effect on the type of lighting used.
For example, smaller rooms with just a shower and no bath aren’t going to need to be as well lit as a sprawling bathroom with all manner of different areas. Likewise, those who want to spend hours relaxing in a bath are going to need more specific lighting around the tub itself, while those whose primary concern is getting that make up just right will most likely be wanting some specific vanity lighting, perhaps recessed into a mirror.
Either way, the first rule is that you will need general lighting. Ceiling lighting is the most common kind. The trick here is not to have it too bright, but also not to have it too dark. Either will make the room feel unwelcoming, and having it too murky will also most likely lead to accidents in such an environment. For those who want to have a more subtle feel to their bathroom lighting, having the ceiling lighting recessed into the ceiling will make for a much more comfortable feel to the lights there.
Home lighting needs to be carefully thought through though, and adding both task and accent lighting to the general lighting will ensure you have the mood you want in your bathroom. Having shadows on your face when trying to get ready or having to strain your eyes to see will not be great for anyone.
Buying beauty products online
There are several options for anyone who wants to buy beauty care accessories and professional beauty products online. Many websites offer these types of products but be sure to check that the site which you choose to order from has a secure online payment system and a reliable delivery service which does not include any hidden costs. Look for a sit which has a link to a ‘fan page’ on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter and check out what customer s are saying about the firm on these sites: after all ,they have not been paid to provide positive reviews but have been attracted by good deals, a good service and special offers. Beauty care accessories from famous firms such as Babyliss, eyelure, OPI nails, TIGI, St Tropez and GHD are expensive to purchase on the high street and some professional beauty products are only usually available to those i n the beauty or hair trade, who have access to wholesale providers. However, many online sites offer these products to the general public at extremely reasonable prices. Check that the site which you choose is verified as safe by an independent certification such as ‘Internet Shopping is Safe’ and browse the site, reading all customer care information, delivery rates, and returns policies before you order. After you have compared sites and found the best bargains on beauty care accessories, your desired products are merely a click away. Whether you need a paraffin wax heater, professional curling tongs, eyelash curlers, hairdryers, luxury manicure kits, false eyelashes or pedicure kits, there are some outstanding deals available online. Be cautious, however, about branded products being offered at prices which are comparatively, suspiciously low in relation to what is on offer from similar products on similar sites. If a price is too good to be true, it is worth ensuring that everything is ‘kosher’ before you proceed. Shop carefully and wisely and you can undoubtedly pick up amazing bargains on professional beauty products.
Commercial window cleaners
If you are looking for commercial window cleaners in Milton Keynes, there are a few options, but be sure to choose a company which is reputable, has a record of providing services to prestigious customers, is environmentally friendly and offers a range of services such as cladding cleaners services. It is recommended that you also choose a firm with a long record in the industry which is fully compliant with stringent health and safety laws and uses highly trained staff in all of its operational business practices. As well as operating as cladding cleaners, many such firms offer specialist sky cleaner services whereby tall buildings and extensive glass structures can be thoroughly cleaned and maintained through the use of highly trained staff and state-of-the art equipment. Companies offering such excellent services may operate as commercial window cleaners in Milton Keynes but will often have several operational bases in a wide area, allowing for the provision of services over a wide geographical area. Any reputable and responsible company will carry out a full assessment of your requirements, all relevant health and safety precautions and advise you on the most appropriate services before providing you with a comprehensive quote. It is crucially important that companies operating in this sector build up a reputation for reliability and safety-consciousness because without these central values, they will not only go out of business but could also be prosecuted and face heavy fines or even jail terms. Therefore, bear in mind that it is worth paying a fair price for a firm which never compromises on safety and quality of service in order to attract customers through extremely low prices. That said, if you regularly use the services of established firms, they will sometimes offer you discounted services in order to reward your loyalty as a valued customer.
Money raised for fleet management
It is not just businesses that benefit from the impact of fleet management and vehicle tracking systems. Government-run organisations and charities can also make use of such systems.
One non-profit entity that intends to do just this is the Arohanui Hospice in New Zealand.
According to a report in the Manawatu Standard, the medical centre is becoming increasingly reliant on its wheels and has therefore devised a new plan that will see money generated each year for both new vehicles and for fleet management.
The medical centre provides palliative care to patients suffering of all ages suffering from life-limiting illnesses. The services include supporting people in their communities, inpatient care, respite care and a 24-hour advice service. Also, social work provisions, family support and bereavement support are also given by the hospice.
During a recent ceremony, the Hospice took over ownership of a new car and palliative care co-ordinator Pare Corkran got to sit behind the wheel of the Mazda that she will be able use while visiting patients.
The vehicle was handed over at Palmfeild Motors, which is the firm that will look after the management of the fleet. In this capacity, the organisation will be responsible for various things, including servicing and replacing the motors.
One of the groups that has raised money for the project is Feilding Friends. Chairman of the organisation Don Taylor said that plans to provide and maintain one car had been discussed but then it was decided that it would make more sense to contribute to the overall fleet management plan.
He added: “It gives us some direction – a very tangible contribution.”
If the hospice has enough money in future, it may decide that vehicle tracking systems should also be put in place to help it keep tabs on its fleet and ensure it runs efficiently.
Fleet management to form part of plan in Big Apple
Fleet management services are used by a variety of companies and other organisations around the UK.
Sometimes combined with vehicle tracking, it can be a good way for them to minimise the risks associated with investing in cars, vans, lorries or buses and it also helps to improve efficiency and productivity.
This means that the overall costs of transportation and staff can be reduced. Not only this, but it can also help ensure complete compliance with government legislation.
However, it is not only those in the UK who are making good use of this type of service.
Those across the Atlantic in the Big Apple have proved this point. Under the terms of a new programme, New York is planning to reduce the costs of its fleet for employees of the city.
As well as establishing new metrics for fleet management, the proposals will reduce the overall number of vehicles owned by the city.
A car sharing initiative is being implemented and the idea was announced by mayor of the capital Michael Bloomberg, deputy mayor for operations Stephen Goldsmith and transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.
Currently in its pilot stage, the programme will enable workers at the Department of Transportation to share the use of dedicated Zipcar vehicles for official business.
Mr Bloomberg stated: “Earlier this year, we announced a large-scale effort to make city government smaller, smarter and more sustainable – both environmentally and fiscally.”
He added: “An important component of that effort is looking at city-owned cars. A car share programme could help reduce the number of cars we use, cut our costs, free up parking on our streets and reduce the congestion on our streets, and the pollution in our air.”
Many organisations are currently seeking ways to reduce their running costs due to the economic conditions and investing in the management of fleets and on vehicle tracking are two possible factors that can help.
How cars can now keep track of people
We are all familiar with vehicle tracking systems. They have been used for many years now and the technology behind them continues to get more and more impressive.GPS vehicle tracking can provide a number of services. Many motorists use it because it helps them to find given locations.
Vehicle tracking system for buses to be improved
Vehicle tracking systems have a wide range of uses and can be used by companies and individuals alike. One of the markets for such products that is gaining strength at present is public transport.
Businesses and local authorities responsible for providing such services are coming under increasing pressure to give accurate information to passengers.
Also, having a GPS vehicle tracking system in place can make managing a fleet of buses, for example, much easier.
One organisation that is determined to use such technology effectively is Leicester City Council.
It already has a Star Trak provision in place but it is looking to improve this and, according to reports in the Leicester Mercury, it has invited bids from firms around the world that believe they are capable of achieving this.
Later this year, a seminar will be held at which interested parties will provide greater detail on how they would enhance the vehicle tracking systems.
At present, users of the service complain that it can be unreliable and this is something the local authority is eager to correct.
The city council’s traffic operations team leader, Ed Kocik, commented: “We’re pleased with the level of interest from companies hoping to work with us on the new Star Trak system. We want an accurate and cost-effective system and we’re looking forward to hearing what expertise these firms have.”
Among the countries that have businesses vying for the project are Spain, France, Germany and Canada. There are also three British companies that are keen to get involved.
GPS vehicle tracking systems are seen as particularly useful for public transport providers that operate in busy, congested towns and cities as it can be hard for them to stick to a given timetable. Despite this, dense urban areas are not the only locations in which such technology is utilised.