How to select the best wholesale supplier

How to Select the Best Wholesale Supplier

Copyright (c) 2009 Steven Holmes

As a retailer I’m often approached by new wholesale, hoping to wrestle my custom away from my existing suppliers. Promises of huge discounts, ever-changing product ranges and a far superior level of service to the one provided by my long-standing wholesaler. The problem is that in the early days of my retail career, when margins were the only thing I cared about, I was seduced by these promises and changed my supplier on a number of occasions, invariably to be disappointed each time. This taught me a valuable lesson — once you’ve found a reliable supplier who provides you with the correct goods, on time, and with a level of customer service that isn’t offensive, stick with them unless you’re absolutely certain that someone can do better.

Of course the number of wholesalers you have to choose from varies greatly from product to product so you may have your mind made up for you. If not though, the key considerations you should bare in mind are as follows:

Reputation — Don’t be afraid to ask other people, even if they are the competition. Try to get the opinion of at least one person who has worked with the supplier before. If the reaction is positive then at least you have a first-hand referral. If a supplier has a reputation for being bad just avoid them. Your shop’s success relies on a continuous flow of stock, so anything that gets in the way of this could be damaging. It’s vert easy to be tempted into using a supplier with a bad reputation because they have the lowest prices. You will regret it!

Language — The way the retail industry is now, a huge number of wholesalers/suppliers are based overseas. Ensure that any overseas supplier you use has a member of staff who is a fluent speaker of your language, unless you happen to be a fluent speaker of there’s. It is vitally important that you can communicate clearly with your suppliers

Payment Terms — Choose a supplier whose payment terms fit with the finances of your business. Very few suppliers these days will ask for the full amount up front but if they do, and to do so would stretch you financially, walk away. Instead choose a wholesaler who operates a sale-or-return policy or a credit policy. This will give you enough time to generate the funds needed to pay for the stock, without putting your business at risk.

Product Range — Differentiation is absolutely critical in retail. If you sell products that are different to the competition then you can sell them at a higher price because of exclusivity. If your products are the same as everyone else’s then the shop with the cheapest prices will get the sale. If possible, find a wholesaler who offers a wide range of original products that are exclusive to them only. For example, if you’re in the market for a wholesale costume jewellery or wholesale fashion jewellery supplier, you will probably find that a number of wholesalers in India or the Far East stock exactly the same products. In this situation it would be advisable to go direct to the manufacturers.

Price — Of course price is an important element. If you can’t make a decent margin on the products you sell, your business will fail. The reason, however, that I have left price til last is because, in my opinion, it shouldn’t be your primary focus.

How can joint ventures boost local small business results

How Can Joint Ventures Boost Local Small Business Results?

If you own a business and would like to get more profit from less work, then you definitely want to start doing joint ventures. Find out how in this article.

A joint venture in business is simply a triple win, or a win-win-win. It happens when 2 (or more) business owners do a deal that not only benefits both businesses, but also serves the customers. There MUST be a win-win-win.

Let me give an example so you can understand the power of joint ventures. There are many kinds of joint ventures that you can organize. This example is for local business owners. Imagine this scenario. Sam owns a dog-friendly restaurant. Sarah owns a gourmet dog cookie business. They form a joint venture that works like this.

Sarah puts a few of her fancy treats into cute little bags. She includes a business card, of course, and she also includes a coupon. maybe it is a 10% discount or maybe it is a gift with purchase offer. She brings the treat bags over to Sam’s restaurant each week. Whenever a dog-owning diner comes to eat, Sam makes their dog very happy by giving the cookies. Any dog owner is likely to go buy the treats if they are a hit with the dog, right? So the dog owner makes a purchase from Sarah and in turn gets a coupon for a free appetizer or dessert from Sam’s restaurant. As you can imagine, both businesses benefit, and the customers will tell their dog-loving friends about their experience. That’s a match made in heaven.

If you want to re-define economic stimulus for yourself, then you want to start creating joint ventures for your business. Think of the buying habits of your customer and you can start coming up with some fabulous ideas for your own joint ventures. Why not take out some paper and start using the creative side of your brain?

All it takes is a little creativity and a deep desire to serve your customer. Find out what else your customer buys. If you notice that people often come into your business carrying shopping bags from a particular nearby business, you have the basis for a joint venture. Could you ask them to offer a coupon or a sample? And could you in turn find a way to give your customers a discount or sample of theirs?

Ask yourself these questions to get the creative juices flowing.

Where else do your customers like to shop? What other products/services are a natural fit for your customer? What else do your customers want and need that you don’t intend to provide yourself? How can you make these customers to think of you as their hero? Whom do you know in a business that your customers would also like to frequent? Whom do you trust in a complimentary business? How can you better serve your customers by forging joint ventures? How will you track results? Start stretching your mind and your expectations and create your own economic stimulus plan through the power of joint ventures.

How to work with contractors to create great content

How To Work With Contractors To Create Great Content

Many Internet marketers use writers to create content for their websites. We are frequently asked for suggestions on working with contractors. Let’s take a look at some of the more common questions on the subject of hiring a writer.

How do I find the right person for the job?

When first looking for a writer, you might be tempted to go with the cheapest one just to save a few dollars but cost should not be your only concern — and never your first concern. This person is going to be writing as you and you should feel comfortable putting your name on the work they do. Here are some things to do to find the best fit for you.

— Request samples of their writing. This will give you a feel for how they approach different topics, the amount of time they put into making sure the content is informative and engaging to your readers, as well as if they have an understanding of the subject.

— Request references. Ask around your group of networking friends. Have they used the particular writer? Was the writer timely and did she ask questions for clarification? Was the client happy with the outcome of the content? Did the writer need to tweak the article more than normal?

— Test their work. Give the writer a small assignment so you can see how she works. Does she take constructive criticism well? Does she make certain she understands the assignment before beginning by asking questions? Does she need hand holding throughout the entire process or do she complete the project with very little direction?

What about payment?

How payment to the contractor is handled will be something the two of you should discuss up front, before any work is passed back and forth. You should find out the following from the contractor regarding payment:

— What are her rates? Do she charge by the hour, per page, per word, etc?

— Does she offer discounts for on-going work or client referrals? Many writers will offer this. Keep this in mind for future projects.

— When do they invoice clients? Do they bill once the project is complete, weekly, or monthly? What are your payment terms?

— Is a deposit required? If so, how much do you need to initially put down? Although paying a deposit is ok, never pay 100% upfront. We like to think the majority of contractors are honest and ethical, but there is always a possibility a contractor will accept payment in full and then never complete the work. Give your writer an incentive for completion; payment or remainder of amount due.

— Will you be paying them via paypal, check, or some other method? Paypal is pretty standard in today’s virtual world, but not everyone does it this way, so be sure to double check. If you want an alternate payment method, be sure to ask about that.

How do I assure I keep a contractor that does a good job?

When you find a writer that fits well with you and your business, you had better keep them. Some tips for keeping them include:

— Give her continual work. Don’t just throw her a task or two a month, when you need something and expect her to stick around forever. She can and will move on to bigger and better projects if she doesn’t have on-going work from you.

— Be patient during the learning curve. Working with someone new always has a learning curve. Your writer needs feedback and patience while she learns your writing style and preferences.

— Pay her on time, every time. Swift payment makes a writer want to work with you more because she knows she doesn’t have to worry about whether she will receive her money or not.

— Allow them to correct any mistakes they make…don’t just fix it for them. Your writer can’t learn what you want if you don’t let her know.

Once you find someone that works well, using a contractor to create content for your business is a wonderful thing. Be patient during the learning curve that comes with working with someone else and if you find it’s just not working out, don’t sweat it. Let her go and move on.

India upstream oil & gas fiscal regime: 2010-aarkstore enterprise

India Upstream Oil & Gas Fiscal Regime: 2010-Aarkstore Enterprise

Summary

India upstream oil and gas fiscal regime report is an essential source for information related to the upstream fiscal system enacted in India’s oil and gas industry. This report contains information related to various types of payments that are to be made by any oil and gas producing company to the host government. The report provides the most recent laws and tax policies in the country. Each fiscal report is supported by a fully editable and interactive Excel model, where all the fiscal terms are applied on a hypothetical base asset. This interactive Excel model, with the latest fiscal term information, is the most appropriate tool to evaluate the profitability of operating oil and gas fields under the country’s fiscal environment.

Scope

— The report provides detailed information on governing laws, licensing authorities, type of contracts and licensing information in country’s upstream oil and gas industry.
— The report provides information on the latest fiscal terms applicable in the country’s upstream industry. These range from exploration obligations, relinquishments to royalties and taxes.
— Deductions, depreciation and amortization related information is also covered in the report.
— Covers sample cash flows and the methodology to apply a fiscal system on an oil and gas field in the country.
— Base asset valuation with government take, contractor take, gross revenue split is provided in the report.
— Sample asset NPV sensitivities to discount rates are also provided in the report.
— Interactive Excel models can be used to derive valuations, sensitivities and cash flows based on the custom inputs by the user in the model. These custom inputs vary from field production data, cost information, price information and fiscal terms information.

Reasons to buy

— The report provides a detailed scenario of upstream oil and gas laws and their impact on the cash flows.
— The report will allow you to value a prospective investment target through a comprehensive and real-time fiscal analysis and focused methodologies.
— The report with interactive model will enhance your decision making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner
— Decide on market entry strategies in specific markets and understand the impact a country’s fiscal policies on your future assets.»

For more information please visit:

http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/India-Upstream-Oil-Gas-Fiscal-Regime-2010-38394.html

OR

Aarkstore Enterprise
Mobile : +919272852585
Fax : +912224169996
Email : press@aarkstore.com
Website : http://www.aarkstore.com

Insurance coverage for your dance studio

Insurance Coverage for Your Dance Studio

Dancing is an amazing way to exercise as well as to express oneself. It is one of the few ways to burn calories and have fun at the same time. This is one of the reasons people are getting so excited about learning the art of dance. From reality television to ballet recitals, dance is all around us and doesn’t look like it has any intention of leaving.

As the business owner, you may be wondering if having insurance for your dance studio important. The answer to that question is absolutely yes. It’s the best way to protect yourself from any financial losses which you might incur due to property damages or a liability claim if a dancer happens to get injured. Lawsuits is not everyone’s cup of tea but is a very real possibility. You also need to think about medical bills and repairs to your studio among other things. If your dance studio is uninsured, then this is money that will have to come from somewhere.. Probably your very own pocket. Face it, in today’s world, this could cost you lots of money.

Some of the things to consider when looking for an appropriate insurance coverage are:

— Contents and Equipment

— Building

— Business Interruptions

— Employer Liability

— Public Liability

There are many different choices to make to find a great dance studio insurance. Make sure you select the one that meets all the needs of you and your business.

Consider the following:

— Does the insurance company provide a complete coverage for your studio?

— Do they specialize in dance studios?

— Will they expand your coverage if you plan a special event in your studio?

— What about your staff? Are they covered as well?

— Are they able to recommend ways to make your environment safer as well as help save you money?

If the studio is part of your home, you will still need to get special coverage. Normal homeowners insurance will not cover accidents that occur in your basement if your basement provides you income.

You have established that you need insurance and the coverage that suits you best. The next step is to start shopping. Different companies offer varied options to choose from as well as differences in prices. If you have your homeowners and car insurance with one carrier, give them a call. Several companies offer discounts to multiple policy holders. Make sure you are protecting yourself as well as your pocket.

Dance studio insurance can be compared to dancing shoes. A good one will lead you through a smooth performance.