Casual Articles - Business

Gift a Basket with Toll Free Numbers
Gift baskets come in a wide range of styles, packaging and content. There is a gift basket for every occasion – birthdays, weddings, ceremonies, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and other social occasions. Toll free numbers make it easy to deliver gift baskets with a free phone call.There is a lot to choose when it comes to gift baskets. There are fruit gift baskets, chocolate gift baskets, gourmet baskets, organic food baskets, dry fruit baskets, baby gift baskets, sports gift baskets, and so on.Toll free numbers make it easy to inquire about gift baskets and order one whenever a need arises. It could be a friend’s birthday, an unexpected ceremony, or a wedding shower that leaves you wondering how to go about arranging for a gift.Browsing through a toll free directory provides instant access to local and regional gift basket suppliers who are just a free call away. Simply fetch the toll free number and i

op of the canopy rails (using a rope) and the bottom of the canopy legs (using utility ties.)

Weather -- Make sure to plan for the elements! This may mean rain gear, sunscreen, extra clothes and the like. Also, your art work should be transported/stored plastic bins as opposed to cardboard. Consider purchasing a heavy duty dolly. Not only will this make getting your display from the vehicle to the display area easier, the dolly can also serve as an above ground table for storing artwork behind your booth.

Hotel arrangements
If you are planning to exhibit out of town, make those hotel arrangements as soon as you are accepted into the show. While an art show alone usually does not fill all the local inns, you may find that other events are in town for the weekend to coincide with the art show. This may make finding last minute lodging difficult.

Lessons of Trade Show Exhibiting
If you are a company looking to make a splash at a trade show, listen to the words of Woody Allen who said that 80% of success is just showing up. Same applies to trade shows. If you want a major presence at a trade show, your company needs to show up on the trade show floor with a trade show exhibit. Otherwise, you will be conspicuously absent from the trade show arena.A case in point --at the CES show in Las Vegas in January, according to Forbes.com, Research in Motion had very little presence in Vegas, despite the fact that it seemed as if every one of the 140,000 people at the trade show had one of its products. By not exhibiting with a trade show booth, RIM made it difficult to believe its recent insistence that it was going after the consumer market with its BlackBerry Pearl.Instead, it appeared that RIM had given up on the race to get smart phones into the hands of ordinary consumers. The message that

If you are a budding artist, one of the easiest ways to market your work is to sell it yourself. And one of the best ways to do this is to exhibit in Art Shows and Festivals. Following are some hints for getting started:

Finding the Shows
Many states and localities have Art Leagues and Associations which list local Art Shows. Make sure to start with these organizations. For nationwide listings, try either Sunshine Artist (artandcraftshows.net), artfairsource.com or festivalnet.com. Once you identify the shows that interest you, you can write or email the contact person of each show for an application.

Filling out Applications
The first thing to note on an application is the deadline. Many shows will not accept entries received after that date. The application will outline the show regulations and fees required. Art Shows vary extensively in rules and regs. Most of the better (i.e. potential for sales) shows limit artwork exhibited to that which is hand-made. Any reproductions, even 2-dimension prints, may be limited or not permitted at all. Make sure to read the application completely before applying to the show!

A Note about Fees
In most cases you will need to send two separate fees with the Art Show application. The first is known as a “Jury Fee” or “Screening Fee.” This fee is non-refundable, and must accompany the application. Jury Fees generally range from $5 to $30.

The second fee is the “Booth Fee.” This is the fee you pay for space at the show. A standard booth space is 10 foot by 10 foot. Depending upon the size and quality of the event, the Booth Fee may range from $25 to $400 or more. Some shows require this check upfront with the application. Other shows request the Booth Fee upon your acceptance into the show.

After the jury has reviewed your application, you will receive one of three replies: A Letter of Acceptance, A Letter of Rejection, or a Stand-by (Wait List) Notice. The first two replies are self-explanatory. The “Wait List” letter simply means that your work did not quite make the first cut, however you stand a chance of being called in to do the show should someone else cancel. It is your choice to remain on the Wait List or to withdraw from the show altogether.

Slides
In most cases, 35mm slides of your work will be required with the application. Some shows are starting to request electronic scans, however many still require the slides. Either way, quality is requirement number one. Whenever possible, you should spend the money to have your art professionally photographed. Remember that this is the only view the art show jury will see of your work. Two dimensional artwork should fill the slide area -- no matting or framing should be visible. Three dimensional artwork should have a very simple background which compliments the art.

Many shows, particularly outdoor shows, will require a “Booth Slide” or photo as well. In this case the art show is looking for a picture of your entire display. It goes without saying that this picture should look as professional as possible. To get a good shot of an outdoor display with canopy, try taking the photo on a slightly overcast day (to eliminate hard shadows) and leave the top of the canopy for nice lighting. Your display should be clean, simple and free of clutter.

Booth/Display
Canopy -- If you are planning to do outdoor shows, you will need a canopy to protect you and your work from the elements. This is not the place to save money. Buy the best canopy you can afford. Talk to any artist who has ever lost $1,000's of dollars of work to wind, rain, etc. and he/she will confirm this. Two of the better canopies are the TrimLine Canopy by the Flourish Company and the Light Dome Canopy. Canopies are offered with many options, including see-through material for skylights and doors, awnings, carrying cases, and more.

Display Panels -- For two dimensional art, you will want standing panels so that you can hang your framed pieces. You may also want a “flip bin” or two for matted, unframed prints. The panels should be fabric-covered, as plain grids tend to have an unprofessional look. Some of the best panels come from ProPanels.com. This company also makes pedestals for displaying three dimensional work. The Flourish Company makes panels which attach to their canopy.

Weights -- Weights are a necessity for canopies. You never know when the wind will kick up, and canopies can turn into flying parachutes. All four legs of the canopy should be weighted. Sand bags and cement blocks work, but a nicer look can be achieved using 3"-4" pvc pipe. Just cut 2-3' sections of pipe. Cap one end and fill with either cement or sand. Then cap the other end with a screw eye hook in the cap. This way you can secure the weight to both the top of the canopy rails (using a rope) and the bottom of the canopy legs (using utility ties.)

Re-Discovering Your Career Passion
Do you ever feel like you’ve lost touch with the enthusiasm and passion you once felt about your career?Remember when you were just starting-out at your first job, or you were a recent graduate? You probably thought that any job would be available to you; that every employer would want to hire you. You were excited about your prospects and believed that you had something wonderful to share.But now that you’ve been in the work-world for quite a while, and have had a series of jobs with several different companies, have you become cynical or resigned in your work-attitude? Are you unsure as to which direction to turn next?As a professional Career Consultant, I have found that this loss of career passion and enthusiasm is very common – and it’s one of my most troubling observations.To address this problem, I came up with an amazingly simple three-part exercise, which I use with my clients. It helps t

d to send two separate fees with the Art Show application. The first is known as a “Jury Fee” or “Screening Fee.” This fee is non-refundable, and must accompany the application. Jury Fees generally range from $5 to $30.

A Business Coach's Top Ten Tactics for Marketing Professional Services
Marketing professional services is a real and difficult challenge. The challenges of marketing professional services are different from those of marketing products. Two major reasons for the differences are that clients cannot see or touch professional services before they buy them and the professional services are often produced and consumed simultaneously. And another reason is that marketing professional services is split among marketing, sales, professional and management staff instead of a dedicated marketing and sales force.How do you meet these challenges? What tactics really work in marketing professional services? To answer those questions, I researched what successful professional service firms do and also drew upon my personal experiences of more than two decades of marketing professional services for others and myself. Based upon my research and my own professional experience, I developed a Top Ten

y still require the slides. Either way, quality is requirement number one. Whenever possible, you should spend the money to have your art professionally photographed. Remember that this is the only view the art show jury will see of your work. Two dimensional artwork should fill the slide area -- no matting or framing should be visible. Three dimensional artwork should have a very simple background which compliments the art.

Medical Billing - Forms Are Big Business
Unless you've worked in the medical billing industry or for a software maker who specializes in medical billing, you can't possibly imagine what a big business this is when it comes to forms. There are more forms for medical billing than Carter has liver pills and they're not given away for free. The money to be made from medical forms processing or even in just the creation of blank forms is insane.Back in the old days of medical forms, there weren't too many. Your first form and only one for a long time, was the HCFA 1500 form. This is a standard medical form that contains a boat load of information about each patient including the patient's personal information such as name, address, date of birth, social security number and so on. These forms also contain the patient's medical problem, diagnosis and treatment, which also includes the charges for all of these things. The form was then printed out, submitted a

etc. and he/she will confirm this. Two of the better canopies are the TrimLine Canopy by the Flourish Company and the Light Dome Canopy. Canopies are offered with many options, including see-through material for skylights and doors, awnings, carrying cases, and more.

Get A Better Salary Deal: More To Start ... More Later
The only time to talk about salary with a prospective employer is after they’ve told you, in clear, unmistakable terms, that they want to hire you.Once you’re certain they're offering you the job, it’s time to talk money. The most basic principle in your salary negotiation should be: get them to propose a number first. Unless the company is unwilling to negotiate on salary at all, you’re in a better position to obtain the highest possible figure if you find out what the company is willing to pay before you disclose what you want.Here’s why:• The company’s offer may be for more than you were going to ask. You end up with a better salary just by accepting their initial offer.• If you disclose your number first and you’re very low in relation to the prevailing market, they may think you lack confidence, and begin to have second thoughts about you.• If you disclose your number first and you

op of the canopy rails (using a rope) and the bottom of the canopy legs (using utility ties.)

Payments
Consider in advance what forms of payment you will accept. While “cash only” is a nice arrangement for the artist, it generally results in lost sales. If you plan to accept checks, make sure to check identification when accepting the check. If possible, try to get a merchant account before the show so that you can accept major credit cards. This will definitely improve your chances of sales. Most banks offer merchant accounts, though these days you will probably find better terms and pricing online.

Marketing Materials
Even if people are interested in purchasing your work not all customers will make purchases at the show itself. It is important to let them know how to reach you later. At very least, have professional business cards ready. (Try vistaprint.com.) If possible, also take flyers, brochures, price lists and other materials which you can hand out. And don’t forget sales slips/receipts.

An “Artist Statement” (telling about you and your work) should be posted in your booth. People want to learn about you!

Attitude and Presentation
One the day of the show, make sure to SMILE! Purchasing artwork is a joyful occasion for most people. Few will transact with a grouch! It is also important to make a good impression on the show committee. One sure way to *not* get into future shows is to growl at a committee member. One last note, dress comfortably, but neatly. The paint-stained clothes should be left at home. You are in “selling” mode now and should dress accordingly.

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Winn Dixie Supermarket Chain is in bankruptcy (yet recording another huge loss in their 2005 fiscal year) after a 51 million dollar loss in fiscal year 2004.

How did a successful model put his years on the family farm to good use? By becoming a dog trainer to the stars.

There are always more things to do than you have the time or money to manage. How you are able to cope with this situation determines whether you have a chance of becoming a successful business owner.

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