Saturday, February 21, 2009

Personalized Stationery Makes a Great Gift for Teens and Children

Finding the right gift for a child or teenager is not always easy, especially since their tastes can vary wildly as they try to find their own way to express themselves.  Clothes are easily outgrown and may not be able to keep up with changing fashions, while toys might soon be considered childish by image-conscious pre-teens.  An alternative that many people might not think of but that can be a big hit with children, teens, and pre-teens is personalized stationary which can not only be in the child’s favorite colors or designs but will also be immediately identifiable as belonging to them.

Children and teenagers alike often enjoy having unique school supplies that they can show off to classmates, so buying personalized stationary can guarantee that your gift is something that no one else will have.Whether it is a set of personalized polka dot memos in a gift bag for a special young lady or a silly animals memo book complete with a matching sticker set for a younger child to show off, personalized stationery makes a great and memorable gift.Not only will the stationery that you buy for them be stylish and feature designs that they like, but having their name printed on every sheet will give them a sense of importance that they might not find with other gifts.

In addition to basic memo pads and stationery items that a child or teen can take to school or keep on their homework desk, a number of personalized stationery sets are available which can serve a broader purpose.  Buying a set of personalized sports-themed cards can let a young athlete send invitations to upcoming games to favorite friends or relatives, or can let them send personal notes and thank-you cards showing off their favorite sports.  Similar card sets can be found and personalized according to the child’s tastes if they are not a sports fan or athlete, letting them use a twin hearts design or an artist’s palette motif on correspondence cards for any invitations or notes that they might want to send.

If the child or teen that you want to buy personalized stationery for has a pen pal or writes a lot of letters, you might even consider buying them a set of personalized address labels in order to let them give their letters a more “grown up” look which better fits their interests.  You can give floral address labels that match personalized floral stationery, or personalized blue stickers which can be used to seal envelopes as an alternative way of putting a return address on letters while giving them an entirely new look.Younger children might enjoy animal stickers or personalized dump truck stickers instead, featuring more cartoon-like characters but serving the same purpose.

One advantage of buying personalized stationery for children and teens is that it can give them a greater appreciation for letter-writing, and writing in general.  Since the stationery is personalized with their name they will be more likely to want to use it, and this can lead to activities such as finding a pen pal or creative writing, both of which can lead to a better grasp of language and grammar as well as an increase in overall creativity.  Unlike some educational toys that many children and a number of teens balk at, encouraging writing by giving personalized stationery can have a definite effect without the child shying away from it because they perceive it as being educational.

When deciding to give personalized stationery to children or teens, take the time to consider your options so that you can find just the right type of stationery to match their interests and personality.  There are a number of different options available from stores and shops that sell personalized stationery, with a number of designs that have been created specifically with children and teens in mind.  This will let you choose a stationery pattern that the child or teenager will be happy with, letting them express themselves a bit more through the look of their paper and other stationery instead of just having regular undecorated paper to use.

Though it might not seem like an ideal gift at first, you will find that many children and teens will get as much if not more use out of personalized stationery than they would from many other gift ideas.  Not only will it see a lot of use, but it may inspire a passion for writing and creativity in the years to come which few other gifts can match.  This way you will be able to not only give a gift that they will enjoy now, but also a gift that can influence them in a number of creative ways for years to come.


About the Author

Shawn Thomas is a freelance writer who writes about style, etiquette and gift giving.

Mr.Thomas often discusses specific ideas for gift giving such as personalized stationery and other kinds of stationery in general.

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Thursday, February 19, 2009

Business Bank Accounts; The Considerations For Company Owners

Choosing business bank accounts is an important part of the starting up process for companies.Understandably there are some essential considerations that have to be made that relate to the bank services offered and how transactions and borrowing costs differ with various accounts.Naturally the relationship you are able to build with the bank's representatives should also be considered.The following article will highlight eight of the most important considerations for those opening business bank accounts.

Firstly it is a vital practice to open a business account should you be operating as a limited company.Whilst sole traders are able to use their personal accounts for business purposes for reasons of clarity, limited companies and partnerships must have a separate financial operation for their monetary needs.

Secondly, as a business owner it is always worth checking many different banks rather than holding two accounts, personal and business, with the same institution.By seeing what is available on the market you stand a far better chance of securing a good deal, while it may be more convenient to utilise the bank that holds your personal account, it is not always financially sensible.

Third on the list is to ensure that you shop around as much as possible and complete quotes for many different bank services, exactly how they calculate their charges and how this will affect your business is a fundamental understanding that simply must be comprehended.To make the task easier there are a number of online tools that can be used for the purpose.

Using a bank with a good history and solid background is always a good idea, particularly in these times of financial uncertainty.While there are many banks on the internet that may offer better rates in terms of interest and borrowing charges it is advisable to avoid unknown financial institutions.If an unheard of internet bank must be used, try to find one that is owned by a major financial institution.

Bank charges are an essential consideration with all types of accounts and should hence be considered as a matter of course.At this stage assessing the needs of your business and finding a bank that will best suit these needs is advisable, for example if you perform many transactions, accounts that have a monthly transaction charge will be more suitable.

Online banking is an essential part of modern business giving access to accounts even when the bank is not open.In a fast paced business world, having ready access to funds and financial information is vital.

Although interest should not really be a major concern in the first year of operating as a business; it is unlikely during the first twelve months that enough revenue will be generated to accumulate interest.That said, if your business is proven in the black, the concern over interest rates will be understandably higher.

The final point concerns the assistance that the bank can provide your business.Most modern banks have business advice teams that are there to help start up companies with strategy and administrative tasks.While these services may not always be free, they can be vital for those who are starting a company with little or no previous experience.

It is hoped that this article has put forward the vital considerations for business owners on how to find and select bank accounts.With a conscientious approach it is possible to find the best financial solution.


About the Author

Financial expert Thomas Pretty studies the key considerations needed when choosing business bank accounts and how companies can create a good working relationship with their bank.

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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

3 Reasons to Get A Fixed Rate Home Equity Loan

An individual who is bankrupt but has enough equity in the house they own such as their house should never have a problem about obtaining finance.One reason that is sufficient enough to block someone's way of getting a fixed rate home equity loan with a reasonable interest rate is having a bad credit record.

Meeting the requirements of certain conditions is just one of the basics that can contribute to the fact that this procedure can never be that easy but then being a bankrupt won't be one of those concerns.These specially created fixed rate home equity loans are exclusively intended for those bankrupt people thus helping them meet the needs and terms to arrange their financial affairs.

Having a standard home loan is better compared to meeting the standards for the credit score normally reserved for the fixed rate home equity loans even though it is much lower, the interest rates are good and the steps necessary to accomplish it is not that difficult.

The equity release is available as a percentage of the leftover equity in the home if the outstanding mortgage were paid of in its entirety although if a secured loan is already part o the equation, this will be taken off as well.

To make things easier, let us say you have taken 50,000 dollar mortgage from a individual with a one hundred thousand dollar home which will then leave you with fifty thousand dollars and from that, a portion for a home equity loan will be available from eighty five percent of that leftover total.The fact that this home loan is secured on a property simply implies that a large sum of money is accessible thus giving the intended bankrupt individuals the chance to be in touch with the good conditions this loan has to offer.The fact that the individual borrowing the money should never have a problem making the payments since he will be given better interest rates and repayment conditions as compared to those bankrupts is presented with this loan.

Credit checks on secured fixed rate home equity loans are never very thorough as the lender is aware of the collateral in the property so is more at ease with lending it to someone who is bankrupt.As the demands for this form of loan have been reduced, the loan applicant can expect a swift resolution which is not something that would normally happen for a secured loan.

The first of the few remaining steps that you need to take after credit verification has been completed is the thorough analysis of the house's deeds.The borrower's means to cope with the repayment conditions is something that is of an issue added with the thought that the individual borrowing should at any rate present the proof that he or she is employed and has some resources to depend on.

The only thing left to do is for the lenders to be happy about the borrower's means to pay so they will call for current copies of pay checks and will need to be assured the monthly premiums will not go past 40 percent of the person's income.For borrowers that cannot prove this, their loan sum may be lowered until it does fall within the guidelines and does not create fiscal strain on the borrower when repayments are due.


About the Author

For credit card, home buying, refinancing, or personal loan information visit

Your Financial Solution



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How To Improve The Efficiency Of Your Warehouse

A bottleneck in your production line is never good as it can quickly eat into your profits.A commonly overlooked potential bottleneck is your warehouse and shipping and receiving departments.When this is the case, many employers will automatically look to beef up the staff when they may want to take a closer look at the equipment that is being used.Check to see if the equipment is designed to handle the workload and if there any additional pieces of equipment that can make the operation run smoother.

Keeping Products Secured


Products need to be secured to the pallet during transportation to prevent damage.

A common procedure is to use plastic shrink-wrap to surround the load.If this procedure is used in your warehouse, you may want to consider an automatic shrink-wrap machine that will spin the pallet and cover the entire load in one step rather than using rolls that are applied by hand.

A strapping machine can prevent boxes from opening during the transport.When securing larger equipment, consider having stands that will hold the straps and clasps all together in one spot.This way, your workers can keep everything in one convenient location.

Another stand that holds shipping labels, bills of lading, knives, tape, packing slips, and other frequently used items can be placed nearby to help keep items organized and convenient.Even if only a few steps are saved on each item shipped, they can quickly add up.The result is employees that have more energy and are less frustrated with the whole process.

Weighing Stations


A transport company needs to weigh any shipment before it can be loaded.

This can become a problem, especially when the entire pallet needs to be weighed and each piece has a different weight.Instead of having employees use a small desktop scale, think about having a scale the size of a standard load installed into the floor.Then the employee only has to pull the load onto the scale or make use of a used forklift to speed up the process.If you're going to be using a used forklift to bring the pallets to the scale, you won't have to worry about removing the transport equipment prior to weighing because the pallets can simply be lifted onto the scale and then quickly removed before the weight is recorded.

Transporting Pallets And Other Loads


The set up of your warehouse, the amount of space you have available, and whether you move loads in and out of trucks or around the warehouse will determine the type of equipment used.

A used forklift with a narrow aisle design is good to move pallets and other loads through tighter spots.Used equipment is good to temporarily store loads on reinforced industrial shelving or vertically to save on space.

A pallet jack is good if you don't have the need to transport loads around the building or place them at a higher level.They can easily move the pallets on and off the truck.If you find yourself renting a used forklift for the times that you do use them, you might want to consider purchasing a used forklift brand to prevent having to wait for delivery of the rental unit.This may seem like a major expense at first glance, but the return on investment will be well worth it in the end.

Regardless of whether you own a small grocery store in the suburbs or a large warehouse in Illinois, forklift and moving equipment are essential components of your operation.Securing loads and weighing pallets can take up a lot of employee time.Anything you can do to streamline the operation will help increase your bottom line.Even the smallest change can add up to big savings over time.


About the Author

Christine O'Kelly is an author for the Illinois forklift experts at RHI Lifts.

They carry a full line of moving and storage equipment and provide maintenance and service for everything from a used Clark forklift to E-Z-Go Cars.They focus on providing high-quality products with fast and dependable customer service for a premium experience.

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Monday, February 16, 2009

What Types Of Items Is A Person Not Allowed To Ship?

People ship items all over the world, retail and specialty stores now have the ability to take orders over the phone or online and ship their wares worldwide.There are some things that can't be shipped via one of the common carriers, many are common sense, but a few may come as a surprise.

Anything considered Toxic or Infectious


This encompasses a pretty wide array of chemicals and fluids including poisons, bodily fluids, pesticides and noxious gasses.

The reasons behind not being able to ship these items is fairly obvious - having any contact with any of them can cause physical illness or in some cases death.No shipping company is willing to put the lives or health of their employees at risk by allowing the shipment of toxic materials.

Explosives or Volatile Materials


No carrier would be any more willing to handle explosives than they would toxic materials.

This can include simple fireworks and gun ammunition, flares, dynamite, hand grenades, etc.Explosives can do just that explode, which depending upon the strength, can do serious damage to all people and property within close proximity to the area causing injury or even death.Even if the package doesn't explode, many of the chemicals involved in manufacturing explosive are caustic and if they come in contact with the skin or are breathed in can cause a myriad of health problems.

Corrosive Agents


Acids, some cleaners, lye, bleach, drain cleaners, etc.

Any and all of these agents can do damage if touched, breathed in or ingested.If not properly packaged many corrosives can eat their way right through the outer layers of the packing material and cause injury to anyone or anything that they come in contact with.

Illegal Drugs


This should be a no-brainer really, illegal drugs are, as the name implies, illegal to possess, use and ship.

Many people have tried and gotten away with shipping illegal drugs in one fashion or another, whether it was hidden inside something inside the package or just simply slipped through the cracks, but attempting to ship illegal drugs is certainly a very bad idea.If you attempt to ship illegal drugs and you get caught, there will be very serious consequences most likely including a long stay in the penitentiary.

Body Parts or Human Remains


Human remains do not keep well, which makes them a less than wonderful candidate for common carrier shipping.

Remains are similar to any other meat and will begin to decompose rapidly outside of a refrigerated setting, so if a loved one passes away while on a trip out of state, don't think that you'll be able to use the USPS to send them back home for a proper burial.

Cold Hard Cash


You can't ship money through the mail or any other type of courier for the simple reason that it's impossible to accurately insure.

If the postal service allowed you to ship and insure cash every scam artist under the sun would be insuring empty packages for one thousand, ten thousand or one million dollars and say that the package was loaded with crisp one hundred dollar bills and expecting that the carrier hand them the money when the package turned up missing.

Any Accelerant or Flammable Material


You can't ship gasoline, kerosene, turpentine, paint strippers or other types of solvents.

Any of these chemicals are quick to ignite in the presence of extreme heat or open flame.Having them travel on a rough road in the back of a one hundred and fifty degree enclosed trailer is most certainly a recipe for disaster, as is throwing it around in a one hundred and fifty degree warehouse.If these chemicals do catch fire, the fire will spread quickly and could be very difficult to put out, possibly causing innumerable injuries and quite a bit of property damage.

Individual common carriers and freight companies may have a list of additional items that they refuse to ship, including prescription drugs, certain medical supplies, some food stuffs and many types of weapons.So if you are considering shipping an item and are unclear as to whether or not there would be cause for concern with that item, it's best to contact the carrier you plan on using to find out for sure.


About the Author

Courier Delivery Service Company offering a wide variety of services across North America.

From overnight shipping, freight delivery, or shipping domestic or internationally.Visit us in one of our office at Shipping Toronto.

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Is Education Needed To Be An Entrepreneur?

Is there really an education needed to be an entrepreneur?This is a question often asked by aspiring entrepreneurs.

Well, it all depends on the individual.There are times even when those that have no educational business background are still able to make it big in the business world.Some say that they owe it all to patience, hard work, and dedication.Most of the successful entrepreneurs on the other hand claim that it would take good education to become an entrepreneur.

So what will it be?Well, if you can afford to study a business degree, then don't let that chance pass you by.You're quite lucky if you can attend college especially for a business degree.You have to dedicate your time studying all your lessons because in due time, you will be able to use such information to the advantage of your business.

You can choose to study in a local university or college or those individuals with more money to spend can study abroad if they want to.The important thing is to take your education seriously because you can use them when the right time comes.And while you're studying, you have to develop all the needed skills and characteristics of being an entrepreneur.

You have to participate actively in all school activities especially those that require you to exercise your skills in business planning, controlling, directing, etc.

There are many business degrees that you can choose from like commerce, business administration, economics, and many others.Make sure that you choose a course that you like and one that you can afford so that you can finish your way to college.Remember, passing alone is not important.You have to learn every step of the way and don't forget the things that you've learned.

Some entrepreneurs didn't have the proper educational background and yet they've become successful in their chosen field.The fact is, there are many successful entrepreneurs without the proper business education.How many times have you heard of an entrepreneur who started from scratch and yet ended up having a high-profit earning business?Perhaps there's more to just education.

You see, aside from education, you have to possess the right qualities and characteristics of being an entrepreneur like leadership, innovativeness, creativeness, risk taker, and many others.Even if you have the proper educational background, you can't become a successful entrepreneur if you don't have these qualities and characteristics.

It seems that education and the right characteristics go hand in hand in producing an effective and successful entrepreneur.If you can have them both, take advantage of it right away.Education is something that money can't buy in an instant and besides, you can use your knowledge for the best interests of your business.

This is not to discourage those that can't afford to earn a business degree in college.If you want, you can use the resources available on the internet and learn everything you can about being an entrepreneur.You must also develop the right attitude and characteristics as early as possible.If you can pull it off, then no one can stop you from entering the business world.

Is there an education needed to be an entrepreneur?This question can only be answered by you.If you're an aspiring entrepreneur, try to assess your qualities, skills, and educational background.After that, you can already determine if you're fit to become an entrepreneur.


About the Author

Is Education Needed To Be An Entrepreneur?


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