Casual Articles - Business

Gondola Shelving Demystified: Part 2 - The Units
In the first article of this series, we covered the basics of a gondola shelving layout. This time around, we’ll discuss how to select the units themselves, and after reading this article you should have no trouble figuring out which gondola units you need to make your final layout a reality. We’ll also take a brief look at how to customize your units through the use of various accessories, backing materials and colors which will give your gondolas a look that is tailored to your retail space.For the purpose of this article, let’s assume we are following a layout that calls for a 7’ span of gondola units along one wall, and a 12’ run of gondola units right down the middle of the store. Right off the bat, we know that we’re going to be ordering both wall units and aisle units. “Wall units” are gondolas with one base shelf and a flat back. As the name implies they are almost always placed flush against a wall and are typically taller than their counterpart, the aisle unit. An “aisle unit” is basically two wall units built back to back which allows for the creation of aisles. A mixture of wall and aisle units is fairly commonplace, especially in high volume retail situations such as convenience and grocery stores.Next, we need to decide how many units to buy in order to complete the 7’ and 12’ runs of gondolas required by our layout. Gondola units, be they wall or aisle, are commonly constructed in 3’ and 4’ lengths. Using a combination of these two sizes, you can make a run of gondola shelving in nearly any length. For the 7’ span of gondolas along the wall of our example store, we would order two wall units, one 3’ long and the other 4’ long, and combine them to make a 7’ length of gondola shelving.Constructing the 12’ aisle run is slightly trickier. Obviously aisle units are going to be used, but do we purchase three 4’ sections or four 3’ sections in order to make the 12’ run? A good rule of thumb in this situation is to use the fewest number of units possible to make the length of shelving you need, as it’s ultimately easier on your budget. If we decide to use three 4’ sections, we not only save ourselves the cost of a fourth unit, but we’ll also save money when we’re buying the accessories that attach to the units.One last thing needs to be considered when buying the actual gondola units, and that’s figuring out how many starters and add-ons are required to construct the run of shelving in question. So what’s a “starter” and what's an “add-on?” A starter is either a wall or an aisle unit that “starts” a run of shelving and consists of the base shelf (or shelves, in the case of an aisle unit) and two steel uprights that frame the backing. Starters are also structurally sound enough to stand on their own, however they also cost more due to the extra metal used to make the two uprights. This extra cost led to the creation of the add-on. An add-on is either a wall or an aisle

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Gross Weight:
The weight of the shipment including all packing, blocking, platforms, special bracing, etc., if required. (includes weight of unit load device, when applicable.)

HAWB (House Air Waybill):
The individual breakdown for each part of a consolidation

Hold for Pick-Up - (HFPU) (At Destination):
Freight to be held at the carrier's destination location for pick-up by the recipient. See also Notify on Arrival. Harmonized System – HS:
The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System is a system for classifying goods in international trade, identifying a given commodity by a single number.

Hazardous Material - (HAZ MAT):
A term referring to dangerous goods

Health Certificate:
A document obtained from a licensed veterinarian that is required to ship ALL live warm-blooded animals.

High Value:
A term used to identify both articles of extraordinary value and attractive merchandise.

Human Remains/Embalmed Human Remains:
Intra-US and international term for deceased human bodies. Sometimes referred to as HR

IAC:
Indirect Air Carrier

IATA:
International Air Transportation Association

IATA Agent:
A forwarder/broker that has been approved and is recognized by IATA to receive cargo, cut Air Waybills and other documents for carriers, and collect charges for air shipments.

IATA Carrier:
An airline which is a member of IATA and may accept, carry, and bill for air shipments. Intra-US counterpart is ATA.

I.E.:
Immediate Exportation

I.T.:
Immediate Transport

Immediate Exportation:
Document prepared at port of departure for a shipment traveling through the U.S., which will clear customs in a different country.

Immediate Transport:
A document prepared at the first U.S. port of entry or used to amend the initial documents indicating the shipment is ready to be transported onto the final U.S. customs airport. On the occasion where routing is altered, an immediate transport document must be reissued to ensure that customs can identify exact location of goods at all times until clearance is granted.

Import:
To bring foreign goods into a country

Import License:
A document required and issued by some national governments authorizing importation of goods into their individual countries. See The Air Cargo Tariff - (TACT).

Inbond:
A term applied to air cargo coming into the USA. This designates a procedure under which U.S. Customs' clearance of cargo is postponed until the cargo reaches an inland customs point rather than at congested gateway cities. Cargo moves under the carrier's bond (posted with U.S. Customs) from the gateway to the inland customs port.

Inbond Entry:
Entry made at the first U.S. port by a bonded carrier or agent. Incoterms:
International Commercial Terms Maintained by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). This codification of terms is used in foreign trade contracts, to define the point up to which the seller is responsible for the delivery of the goods, and the point in which the risk of loss is transferred from the seller to the buyer. The last edition, Incoterms 2000 contains 13 codes:
EXW – Ex – works FCA – Free Carrier (named place) FAS – Free Alongside Ship (named port of shipment) FOB – Free On Board

Indirect Air Carrier:
An entity which purchases cargo space from an airline and sells the space to other shippers. A freight forwarder is an indirect air carrier.

International Air Transport Association (I.A.T.A):
The trade and service organization for airlines of more th

Why Do I Pay A Royalty Fee?
The first point to make about Royalties is that good Franchise systems should look at them not as a payment but rather as a remittance. It is the Franchisor’s share of the income derived from customers or clients. The Franchisee collects that fee along with all other revenues from the customer.It’s an important concept because it emphasizes that the customer ultimately pays for everything, including the Franchisor’s royalty, the Franchisee’s overhead, all costs of sales, employee’s salaries, and the Franchisee’s profit. Therefore it’s all about the customer – as it should be.The Franchisee should want the Franchisor to earn a significant amount of royalties because that’s really the oil that makes the engine run. Each Franchisee collects and remits a small portion of that oil to the Franchisor. All elements of the system can continue to improve as long as the royalty stream is strong.The Franchisor’s royalty will be based on the fact that they have provided a system and strategy that has ultimately served the customer. The Franchisee delivers that system to that customer. The royalty represents the Franchisor’s share based on the various parts of the Franchise system, which has four elements.The four elements of a Franchise are:a) Brand b) Operating System c) Support System d) FranchiseeBrand – the name associated with the services delivered in a memorable and satisfying experience to the customerOperating System – institutionalizes the excellent service delivered in a memorable experience so it can be done over and over again from Franchise to Franchise in a consistent mannerSupport System – helps the Franchisee get better and better at delivering the service in a memorable experience – helps a Franchisee improve their performanceFranchisee – the individual motivations or reasons for being in a good system, as well as the talents and experience delivered to the business.The Operating and Support systems will generally provide access to advice at the level of professional consultants in the fields of marketing, management, advertising, execution of the delivery of the product or service, customer support, etc. The cost of these types of consultants on the open market will often far exceed the value of the royalty fees that are remitted by the Franchisee that participates in a system that delivers these items from a position of experience. In fact, it’s the exact experience the Franchisee requires as opposed to open market advice.Now here’s the test. If each of the four elements of a Franchise system is evaluated in terms of the percentage of contribution to the overall success of the business, then the royalty can be assessed in a proper light. Many people will say that each of the four elements contributes equally – or 25%, to the overall success. That means that the Brand, Operating System, and Support System provide 75% of the

AWB:
Air Waybill

Accessorial Services/Fees:
Services provided by an airline in addition to the normal transportation service. These charges are not included in the basic weight rate charge.

Common accessorial services include:
advancement of charges, pick-up, delivery, C.O.D. service, signature service, storage, demurrage, and loading/unloading.

Account Number:
A specific number assigned by any airline, to an approved customer, used for billing and other computerized functions.

Actual Weight:
What the shipment actually weighs on a scale.

Advance Arrangements:
The shipper must make arrangements with the carrier prior to the intended date of shipping. See Booking.

Advancement of Charges:
A service under which airlines, in some instances, pay incidental charges arising before or after airhaul. Examples would include cartage and warehousing costs. These charges can be paid in advance for the convenience of either the Shipper or Consignee.

Agent (IATA):
A forwarder, agent or broker who is recognized and approved by IATA, appointed by a carrier and authorized by the respective carrier to receive and prepare shipments and to collect charges. See Cargo Sales Agent.

Air Freight:
The goods for transport in any volume, and the type of service airlines provide to transport the goods. The term most commonly used is Cargo.

Air Freight Forwarder:
See Freight Forwarder

Air Waybill:
Shipping document used by the airlines for air freight. It is a contract for carriage between shipper and carrier covering Intra-US and international transportation of cargo to a specified destination. It includes carrier conditions of carriage highlighting such items as limits of liability and claims procedures. The Air Waybill also contains specific shipping instructions to airlines, a description of the commodity, and applicable transportation charges. Air Waybills are not negotiable.

Airbill:
See Air Waybill

Aircraft:
Most commonly used term for airplane. See Equipment.

Airport-to-Airport:
From one airport facility to another airport facility. (No pick-up/delivery service applies.)

Allotment:
A blocked space by airlines, on behalf of forwarders / shippers.

Articles of Extraordinary Value - (AEV):
Commodities identified as high-value items that require advance arrangements and special handling.

Assembly Service:
A service by which an airline assembles shipments from one or many shippers and transports them as one shipment (not necessarily at one time or flight) to one Consignee.

Astray:
Cargo that is traveling without paperwork or on paperwork in place of the original

ATA:
Actual Time of Arrival, or Airport-To-Airport Attractive Merchandise:
Commodities such as cameras, radios, electronic equipment, etc., that are handled as high-value shipments but not rated the same.

Backhaul:
To move a shipment back over part of a route already traveled.

Banded/Banding:
Cargo wrapped and/or secured with metal or plastic strips

Bank Release:
An import shipment requiring notification and release from a bank or in care of a bank. The release must be on the bank's stationary and must be an original copy. Photocopies, fax, and phone calls are not acceptable. Also see Letter Of Credit

Belly or Belly Pits:
Compartments located beneath the passenger deck used for cargo, baggage storage and mail.

Bill of Lading:
A document by which a carrier acknowledges receipts of goods and contracts to move them. The Air Waybill is a form of bill of lading. See Air Waybill.

Bonded Carrier/Trucker:
A firm that has posted bond with the government and is licensed to carry and hold in their facilities' goods that have not been granted a clearance by countries' Customs Authorities.

Booking:
A shipper has prearranged cargo space on a specific flight(s) creating a booking, or reservation. See Advanced Arrangements.

Broker (Customs):
A person or firm licensed by the Customs Authorities to transact business with customs on behalf of importers for a fee. See Customshouse Brokers

C.O.D.:
Collect on Delivery

C.O.D. Fee:
The fee charged for collecting the COD amount for the shipper.

CWT:
Hundred weight

Cargo:
The goods for transport in any volume, and the type of service airlines provide to transport the goods. Exceptions:
(a) Mail or other property under the terms of an international postal convention. (b) Baggage carried under a passenger ticket and baggage check. Unaccompanied baggage moving under an Air Waybill is cargo. See Air Freight.

Cargo Sales Agent:
An agent appointed by IATA to solicit and process international cargo for shippers. IATA Cargo Sales Agents are paid commissions by the airlines without added cost to the shipper or consignee. See Agent IATA

Cargo Transfer:
Cargo arriving at a point by one carrier and continuing its journey through another carrier. See Interline.

Carnet (ATA Carnet):
A document issued by Chambers of Commerce, permitting the holder to carry or send merchandise temporarily into certain foreign countries (for display, demonstration, or similar purposes) without paying duties or posting bonds.

Carrier:
A term synonymous with airline. Each airline is a carrier of passengers and cargo.

Carrier Certificate:
A document prepared by the Carrier containing the master Air Waybill number, house Air Waybill number, flight number and date the shipment arrived and the storage date. The consignee/broker needs this information in order to clear customs.

Certificate of Origin:
A document to prove the place of origin for specified goods, required by certain foreign countries for tariff purposes.

CNEE:
Consignee

Co-Loader:
The participants in a consolidation other than the master loader. Each provides all the documentation required for their shipment to the master loader. See Consolidation, MAWB, HAWB, Master Loader.

Collect Charges:
Charges entered on the Air Waybill for collection from the consignee. Freight collect, charges forward or charges collect also have the same meaning.

Collect on Delivery - (C.O.D.):
A transportation service under which the purchase price of the goods is collected by the carrier from the receiver at the time of delivery, and subsequently, payment is transmitted by the carrier to the shipper. Carriers charge a nominal fee for this service. As the term COD implies, payment is due upon delivery. There are no credit provisions in COD service.

Commercial Invoice:
Shipper's documentation describing the goods and their value which must accompany all international and transborder shipments

Commodity Code:
A system for identifying a given commodity by a number as a means of facilitating, for example, the application of computerization to freight transportation.

Conditions of Contract:
The terms and conditions established by the air carriers for the carriage of goods. These conditions are printed on the Air Waybill and include such items as limits of liability, claims limitations, indemnity and dimensional weight rules.

Connection Time:
Allowable published time to connect cargo from one flight to another

Consignee:
The receiver of a shipment, or to whom the shipment is consigned

Consignment:
Shipment of one or more pieces of property, accepted by the carrier from one shipper, receipted for in one lot, and moved on one Air Waybill, to one consignee at one destination.

Consular Invoice:
A document required by some foreign countries, describing a shipment of goods and showing information of the shipment. It is certified by a consular official of the foreign country. It is used by the country's customs officials to verify the value, quantity and nature of the shipment.

Container:
A shipping device, airline provided or shipper provided, allowing a convenient and lower cost method of shipping. See ULD - Unit Load Device.

Containerization:
The use of box-like or other unit load devices (ULD) in which a number of packages are stored, protected, and handled as a unit in transit. See Container and ULD.

Conversion Rate:
The rate used to convert one currency to another. See Exchange Rate and Rate of Exchange. Customs:
A government authority designated to regulate flow of goods to and from a country and to collect duties levied by a country on imports and exports. The term also applies to the procedures involved in such collections.

Customs Airport:
Designated airports in each country which have customs facilities.

Customs Clearance:
A shipment must clear customs when it enters any country from another.

Customs Declaration:
A statement, oral or written, attesting to the correctness of description, quantity, value, etc., of merchandise offered for importation into the U.S.

Customhouse Broker:
A broker who is licensed by the Customs Authorities to act for importers and other businessmen in handling the sequence of customs formalities and other details attendant to the legal and expeditious importing of goods.

Dangerous Goods:
Articles or substances which are capable of posting a significant risk to health, safety, or property when transported by air if not packaged according to federal regulations.

Declared Value for Carriage:
The value of goods declared to the carrier by the shipper for the purposes of determining charges or establishing the limit of the carrier's liability for loss, damage, or delay.

Declared Value for Customs:
The selling price of the contents or the replacement cost if the contents are not for resale. The amount must be equal to or greater than the declared value.

Delivery Authorization Document - (DAD):
A customs term for a 7512 (I.T.) or a 3461 (Clearance) or a straight Air Waybill stamped by customs.

Department of Transportation - (DOT):
An executive department of the U.S. Government established by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 for the purpose of developing national transportation policies.

Destination:
The final stop of cargo that is being transported. Sometimes referred to as the final destination. exists.

Diversion:
Landing at a location other than the planned destination

Documentation:
The required paperwork accompanying a shipment such as an Air Waybill, a health certificate, invoices, shipper's export declaration, etc. Dolly:
A piece of equipment with wheels, used to move containers and pallets to/from the aircraft

Door-To-Door:
Used when pick-up and delivery service applies.

Drop-Off:
Shipper delivers shipment(s) to the Air carrier for transportation. See Tender

Drop Time:
A published time frame at each airport city when the shipper must drop off cargo prior to flight departure

Duty:
A tax imposed on imports by the customs authority of a country. Duties are generally based on the value of goods, other factors such as weight or quantity limits, or a combination of value and other factors

ETA:
Estimated Time of Arrival

ETD:
Estimated Time of Departure

Embargo:
Temporary refusal to accept cargo for transportation at certain points or in certain routes due to the type or class of cargo, limitations of facilities, emergencies, or other abnormal circumstances.

Equipment:
Used in the airline industry referring to aircraft or aircraft type, i.e., DC-10, B-727, etc.

Escorts:
People accompanying shipments on the same aircraft

Estimated Time of Arrival - (ETA):
The time at which a flight is expected to arrive as determined by operating conditions. It can differ from the scheduled time of arrival.

Estimate Time of Departure - (ETD):
The time at which a flight is expected to depart as determined by operating conditions. It can differ from the scheduled time of departure.

Exception Ratings:
Rates set at a certain percentage above the general commodity rates because they apply to commodities that require special handling, such as live animals and human remains. See Class Rate and Premium Rate

Excess Value:
The amount of declared value on a shipment that is over the carrier's liability

Exchange Rate:
The price of one currency in terms of another

Exclusive Truck:
A shuttle truck that operates exclusively for an airline

Export:
To send or transport shipments out of a country for sale or use in another country or for personal purposes.

Export Broker:
An individual or firm that brings together buyers and sellers for a fee, but does not take part in actual sales transactions.

Export License:
A government document that permits the licensee (holder of license) to engage in the export of designated goods to specific destinations.

Firms Code:
A customs location code issued for each bonded warehouse or facility.

Flatbed Truck:
A shuttle truck that does not have an enclosed trailer

Forwarder:
See Freight Forwarder. Free domicile:
A term used in international transportation where the shipper pays all transportation charges and any applicable duties and/or taxes.

Freight Forwarder:
Serves a dual role. To the airlines, the freight forwarder is a shipper. To their customers, the freight forwarder is an indirect carrier or agent. The freight forwarder receives freight from customers under his own tariff, usually consolidating it into larger shipments, prepares necessary documents and makes arrangements for moving freight.

Freighter:
An aircraft that carries cargo only, rather than the combination of passengers and cargo

GBL:
Government Bill of Lading

GCR/GEN:
General Commodity Rate

Gateway City:
The first port of entry into a country, or the last port before exiting a country.

General Commodity:
Any cargo commodity that does not warrant a special or specified rate.

General Commodity Rate:
An air freight rate applicable on all commodities, except those for which specific rates have been filed. Rates are based on weight and distance and are published for each pair of cities an airline serves.

Government Bill of Lading - (GBL):
A document issued by a government agency used to request transportation of goods and support the billing of same in conjunction with carrier's Air Waybill.

Gross Weight:
The weight of the shipment including all packing, blocking, platforms, special bracing, etc., if required. (includes weight of unit load device, when applicable.)

HAWB (House Air Waybill):
The individual breakdown for each part of a consolidation

Hazardous Material - (HAZ MAT):
A term referring to dangerous goods

Health Certificate:
A document obtained from a licensed veterinarian that is required to ship ALL live warm-blooded animals.

High Value:
A term used to identify both articles of extraordinary value and attractive merchandise.

Human Remains/Embalmed Human Remains:
Intra-US and international term for deceased human bodies. Sometimes referred to as HR

IAC:
Indirect Air Carrier

IATA:
International Air Transportation Association

IATA Agent:
A forwarder/broker that has been approved and is recognized by IATA to receive cargo, cut Air Waybills and other documents for carriers, and collect charges for air shipments.

IATA Carrier:
An airline which is a member of IATA and may accept, carry, and bill for air shipments. Intra-US counterpart is ATA.

I.E.:
Immediate Exportation

I.T.:
Immediate Transport

Immediate Exportation:
Document prepared at port of departure for a shipment traveling through the U.S., which will clear customs in a different country.

Import:
To bring foreign goods into a country

Import License:
A document required and issued by some national governments authorizing importation of goods into their individual countries. See The Air Cargo Tariff - (TACT).

Indirect Air Carrier:
An entity which purchases cargo space from an airline and sells the space to other shippers. A freight forwarder is an indirect air carrier.

International Air Transport Association (I.A.T.A):
The trade and service organization for airlines of more th

Portable Toilet Hire Explained Simply
Hiring portable toilets for a construction site, an event, a concert, party or large gathering can be confusing process given that you could hire a self contained chemical toilet, chemical disabled toilet, portable mains connect toilet, disabled toilet with baby changing facilities or urinal units.This article aims to explain some of the differences between the various types and what you should look for in terms of accreditations to ensure that you have peace of mind.Most are self contained chemical toilets with either cold water handwash, warm water handwash or hot water handwash. Warm and hot water handwash normally require mains electricity whereas cold water handwash does not.Then there is the question of how many you will need. As a general rule of thumb, if alcoholic beverages are served or there is a large female attendance, increase the number of units by 13%.Disabled toilet and baby change units allow freedom for the disabled without struggling in a confined space and freedom for mother, baby and buggy to enter and use baby changing facilities in privacy.To ensure peace of mind, consider an organisation that has the following accreditations:Portable Sanitation Europe (PSE) to ensure compliance with environmental protection and health & safety legislation, discharge duties, unbiased advice on numbers of units needed, effluent collection and disposal in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991, weekly recorded servicing, spillage control to protect the environment, complaints arbitration.Thames water agreement providing entitlement to discharge liquid waste safely.BS ISO9001:2000 and BS ISO14001:2004 certifying quality and environmental management.Public Liability Insurance.For further advice contact http://www.simplyloos.co.uk

ing. See Air Waybill.