Profit Margin

D. Moore's Business Blog


  • What Works

    What makes a business work? What turns the profit profitable? What makes the red turn to black?

    Business processes go on behind the scenes, working their magic where you don’t see them unless you’re the person in charge. From planning to financing to order fulfillment to shipping, from customer service to sales cycle, there’s a whole lot the average person doesn’t see.

    Process. Manage. Plan. Juggle. Rearrange. Budget. Disperse. Re-plan. Shuffle Ball Change. It’s a dance!

    What works in business is what works in life: Flexibility, focus, commitment, intensity, and the ability to change on a dime.

    This website is dedicated to those businesses who do it well.


  • My Number One Tip For Cutting Down On Household Expenses

    With energy costs on the rise, household expenses are getting more and more difficult to maintain. As a result, I’ve been on the lookout for money-saving methods in the past couple of years and I think I’ve finally managed to find a real gem. Living in a region where hard water is piped into my home has driven up my household expenses by reducing the shelf life and energy efficiency of my water appliances. Purchasing a Kinetico water softener has put a stop to that for good.



    Do you live in a region with hard water too? If so, I’m willing to wager that you have to replace your water pipes and water tank at least once every two years. This is because the mineral deposits in hard water tend to build up in your pipelines and hot water tank, obstructing water flow and reducing the overall efficiency of the pipe network. Replacing your pipes is horribly expensive. You not only have to pay for the construction materials, but also for the pipe installation services provided by plumbing companies. Getting a water softener greatly increases the lifespan of your pipes and water tank. All the harmful minerals are filtered out of the piped water, ensuring that the water passing through your pipelines leaves no residue behind. It’s also easy to install on your own – all you need is a welder. Not having to hire a plumber means you only have to pay a one-time fee for your water softener to enjoy all of its amazing benefits.



    Surprisingly few people are aware of the impact hard water can have on their dishwasher, washing machines and other water-using appliances in their home. Mineral deposits can build up inside these appliances just as they do in your pipes, causing these appliances to malfunction. You then have to shell out your hard-earned money to replace them. With a water softener, you don’t have to worry about any of that. Your electrical appliances will outlive their warranties, providing maximum value for money.



    If you’re sick of having to fork out hundreds of dollars each year to repair the damage caused by hard water, a water softener is your best bet. It worked for me and it will work for you too!


  • Tips For Making Your Air Conditioner Last Longer

    I know I must sound pretty weird for saying this, but I much prefer winter to summer. The sweltering heat, the stifling humidity, the bugs – give me a nice pretty snowfall any day! However, since we live in a temperate zone, we’ll have to put up with the summer temperatures at least three months a year. Thankfully, I’ve my trusty old air conditioner from jdkair.com to help me out. It’s been keeping my home comfortable for the past eight years. Here are some tips that may help you extend the lifespan of your air conditioner.

    Ever since I bought this air conditioner, I’ve had a maintenance agreement with JDK Air. They inspect the air conditioner once every two months to check for possible malfunctions. This ensures that if any components of the air conditioning unit do become defective, the problem is quickly remedied before the damage to your air conditioner becomes irreparable. Best of all, the maintenance fees don’t cost me much. Under the maintenance agreement, I’m getting a 15 percent discount on JDK Air’s preventive maintenance services. To me, the peace of mind I get from knowing that my air conditioner is fully functioning is well worth that discounted fee.

    I also chose to buy an air conditioner with an extended parts warranty period of ten years. Not many air conditioner manufacturers offer such a long warranty period. Bryant, the signature brand carried by JDK Air and the brand of air conditioner I own, is one of the few that does. You get a ten-year warranty not only on the air conditioner parts, but also on the compressor which usually begins to malfunction after five to six years of heavy use. This warranty ensures you can keep your air conditioner in tip-top shape at minimum cost to yourself because defective parts can be replaced for free.

    Air conditioners don’t come cheap, so find a good one and make it last. You’ll save way more money that way.


  • Golf School Makes A Difference

    There are a surprising number of golf school skeptics out there. Some of them claim that professional golf coaches are simply frauds out to get your money and that it’s absolutely possible to progress quickly in your golf game without enrolling yourself in a golf school. Having studied the sport at a number of very well-known Florida golf schools, including the highly acclaimed Executive Golf School, I’ve found that golf school really does make a difference and is well worth the investment, if you can afford it.

    I knew that attending golf school would definitely allow me to hone my golfing skills, but I wasn’t expecting to make such dramatic improvements in such a short period of time. I went from shooting in the high 130s to the low 100s in just under four months. My golfing coach had been playing for nearly twenty years. He’d seen just about every possible golfing situation come up, so he had plenty of valuable wisdom to share with his students. Thanks to him, I amassed a diverse arsenal of golfing techniques, ensuring I was well-equipped to handle all but the most difficult of golf courses.

    Going to golf school had had another unexpected benefit. It helped me improve my mental approach to the game. Previously, I was often half-hearted about the sport. On occasion, I would actually skip my weekly practice sessions when I was feeling lazy or the weather was too hot. As a result, my progress stalled. Once I enrolled in golf school, slacking off was no longer an option. I’d invested far too much money in my golfing education to skip my coaching sessions, so I practiced without fail twice a week under the watchful eye of my golf instructor. As they say, practice makes perfect and all that extra practice sure paid off on the golf courses.

    In short, anyone who tells you that golf school is a waste of time and money has probably never been to golf school himself. Don’t listen to the naysayers. Golf school makes a difference and is probably the most significant investment you can make if you’re serious about getting better at the sport.


  • Three Things to Look Out For in A HVAC Company

    Unless you still live in an archaic hut with a hand fan and a fireplace, you’re going to need a HVAC contractor every now and then to repair your existing air conditioning and heating units or to replace them with new ones. If you’re not sure how to go about selecting a HVAC company that meets your needs, I hope this guide will prove useful. These three guidelines helped me find JDK Air, an amazing HVAC company that has yet to let me down.

    1. Free Expert Analysis

    Let’s say you hear a rattling sound in your air conditioner. You take it apart and inspect it, but since you aren’t professionally trained, you can’t spot anything wrong with it. Would you go to your HVAC company and ask them to inspect your air conditioner for you? “That depends,” you’d probably reply. “Do they charge for analysis?” Some companies will charge you a consultation fee before they provide an estimate. Others, like JDK Air, will provide an estimate completely free of charge. That way, you can decide whether the problem is worth fixing. If you pay for an estimate only to realize that repairs would not be economical, you’ve just wasted some precious money.

    2. Preventive Maintenance

    I also feel it’s important to seek out HVAC companies willing to perform preventive maintenance as this greatly extends the lifespan of your heating and air conditioning units. If your contractor insists on waiting until a problem reaches epic proportions before he’s willing to take action, your air conditioner won’t last long even if you do repair it. Regular maintenance helps to prevent common problems such as clogged ventilators and saves you money in the long run.

    3. Maintenance Agreements

    Since you’re going to want your contractor to have a look at your heating and cooling units at least once every two months, you should look for a company that offers you maintenance agreements. A maintenance agreement is basically a contract where you agree to pay for regular air conditioner and heater maintenance in return for a discount. JDK Air, for example, offers customers a 15 percent discount if they are willing to sign an agreement. 

    Getting a reliable HVAC contractor that offers competitive prices will make your life a lot easier. I’ve found one – have you? 


  • Why I Love My New Water Softener

    When I first moved to America, I read a lot about how the hard water in your pipes could drive your household expenses up. However, I soon got used to the high household maintenance fees associated with living in a hard water region and ceased to think about it. Recently, I received a Kinetico water softener as a birthday present from a good friend and realized what I’ve been missing out on all these years.

    To a person like me who hates doing housework, the best thing about a water softening device is that it makes cleaning your house so much easier. When you wash your walls, floor or even your dishes with hard water, the water tends to leave a chalky white residue on the cleaning surface. This requires additional cleaning where you have to scrub hard with a piece of sandpaper or some steel wool in order to remove the residue. I thought I’d learnt to live with it, but now that I have my new water softening device, I can’t imagine going through so much trouble to clean my house again. Now that my water has been thoroughly purified, I never have to wash any surface more than once to get it clean.

    After several months, I began to realize that my water softener was contributing to massive reductions in my energy bills as well. I was spending about 20 to 30 percent less each month on electrical bills. After doing a bit of research, I discovered that hard water takes more energy to heat up because of its high mineral content. After these minerals were filtered out by the water purification device, however, my water heater could get my water warmed up in a jiffy. The increased energy efficiency saved me tons on my electrical bill.

    When my water softener begins to malfunction – and I doubt that’ll happen anytime soon since it looks really sturdy – I’ll definitely be shelling out money for a new one. The immense convenience and plentiful savings opportunities this nifty device bring to my life are well worth the small investment.


  • Why You Should Get Your LEED Certification

    There are probably many people who are not familiar with a LEEDs certification. LEED is an acronym that stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Many buildings are now obtaining this designation, but people can achieve it as well by taking a LEEDs certification exam. There are a few steps to take to achieve this, but first let’s understand what exactly it involves.

    If a building has achieved LEED status, that means it has been verified to have been built and designed in a way to be “green,” or eco-friendly. Some examples of the things that are considered would be improving energy safety, water efficiency, the quality of the indoor environment, and reduction of CO2 emissions. The building is then ranked from “certified” up to a “gold” status, depending on how well those qualities have been met.  To ensure the building is up to these standards, experienced consultants need to help with their input, from the initial planning through construction and well into the day to day use of the facility. That is where taking a LEEDs certification exam would come in. Taking and passing the test gives a person an AP status, which is short for an Accredited Professional. By being certified, that allows a person to consult with contractors on how to make their buildings more environmentally friendly and to obtain the certification for their structures. There are many types of jobs that can use this designation. Some examples would be architects, engineers, environmentalists, and even interior designers or landscapers. Any of these professions can help guide the builder in the right direction to make the right decisions in order to become a LEED establishment.

    There are a variety of schools available that will help you to get a LEED certification. The professionals at Green Work Experience will be happy to answer any questions you may have.


  • My Experience With Golf School

    I am definitely not the most adept when it comes to sports. I am afraid of water, so that leaves out swimming. I am beyond uncoordinated so that leaves out a variety of other activities such as baseball, volleyball, and quite honestly even running. I have been known to trip over air. That is why I considered looking into golf. I mean, how hard can it be to hit a little ball. Plus you get to ride around in a cool cart! After attempting a game of mini golf and being severely beaten by my 8 year old, I decided I needed to look into some professional help. That search led me online to executivegolfschool.org.

    Knowing less than nothing about the game, I was hesitant to contact the school. Could they really help someone as awful as I was? The answer was a resounding “yes!” I discovered that many beginner golfers attend golf school to gain the basics. The majority of golf schools take place at a beautiful resort that offers a fabulous golf course. Mine was no different. The classes are small, most do not go over a three to one student/teacher ratio. I chose to sign up for a one to one ratio because I knew I would need all the help I could get. I was instructed to bring my own set of clubs along with my golf shoes and proper golf attire. Upon arrival, I met with my instructor to review my personalized lesson plan. We went out to the driving range and he took me through some practice swings so he could get an idea of my strengths and weaknesses. To my surprise, I wasn’t nearly as bad as I had feared!  The rest of the time was spent with one on one instruction and practice time. Near the end of the week we played the course a few times and upon my “graduation”, I was confident I would be able to play a respectable 18 holes.

    Please contact executivegolfschool.org to inquire about their personalized golf classes.


  • The Benefits of Logistics Software

    When you are in the transportation industry, there will be nothing more important than logistics software. This is the type of software that will help you to maintain the proper load capacity as well as information on where your vehicle is located. This is an absolute must when you are in the warehousing and transportation industry.

    When you are planning on giving a driver a load to transport, it is so much more involved than just giving them a sheet of paper with the address for the drop off. There are state laws that must be followed when it comes to weight limits. There are also very important factors like the best route to take and how to best load the products onto the truck. A driver who takes a wrong turn on his route runs the risk of getting his truck stuck under a low bridge. With Prophesy Logistics, this can all be avoided. The software will alert the driver to areas that don’t allow commercial vehicles, streets with low bridges, and even highways that will take the driver far out of their way. This means it will be much easier for the driver to get to their drop off destination more quickly. The software is also very helpful when it comes to actually getting the load onto the truck. There will be shifting of a load when it is being transported. In order to avoid having damaged goods, it’s imperative that the load be properly packed onto the truck. The heaviest objects would go in the back because a driver that opens the rear doors would not want them falling on him. Something as simple as this software can make all of the difference for the driver and the company.

    For more information about how logistics software can benefit you and your company, you may visit http://prophesylogistics.com/.


  • Personal Injury Lawyer in Houston

    If you have been hurt in a work related accident, or car crash, you may be in need of a personal injury lawyer. The law that surrounds personal injury is complex and is always changing. It is important that you talk to someone who deals with the law professionally. Lawyers that have experience are available for you, the hard part is finding the right one that suits you. You have already been hurt, there is no need to add more stress to your life by trying to handle everything on your own.

    There are so many cases that might require you to get a lawyer. Such things as wrongful death, brain or spinal cord injuries and fire and burn incidents. These are all cases where you can get a settlement for your pain and suffering.

    If you are in Houston and are looking for a personal injury lawyer, Alton Todd offers his services. The Law Offices of Alton Todd has extensive resources available to help you with your case. This firm has investigators that are in-house who evaluate injuries and will testify how much they think it will cost for you to recover. Alton Todd and his associates are focused on providing their clients with the best services. They give each client the personal attention that they deserve, to make sure they win each of their cases. Each case and client need to go through a certain process. This process starts with the client. When dealing with a personal injury claim, the client may be asked to sign waivers so that the responsible party is not liable. However, this should not be done until you speak with a professional. You can call to get a consultation, and find out if you have a case that needs handling. The Law Offices of Alton Todd have a 24 hour line that can be reached at 1-888-388-TODD (8633).


  • Pay Day Made Easier

    As a payroll clerk in a small business in Stone Mountain, Georgia, I spent a large part of one week out of every two, working on the payroll. It was a time consuming process that took me away from my
    other job duties. It was a “robbing Peter to pay Paul” type of situation as far as the duties of my job went. When I worked on payroll, something else was being neglected. Of course, I could not shirk the duties of payroll clerk as the employees, including myself, wanted to be paid and paid on time. My supervisor began doing some research to see if there was an easier system. There had to be an easier system. There was and she, thankfully, found it. It is a payroll software system.

    It has lessened my workload to the point that one of our temporary employees in no longer needed and we are able to save that money to go in other directions. This new system covers the areas of time and
    attendance, payroll and scheduling. Changes in tax laws will not longer be an area in which I need to wrack my brain. I’ll be concerned of course, since it will effect my pay as it does everyone else but I don’t have to try to learn to figure them out on my own any longer. I am a big fan of this new system. The Data Collection Devices are said to reduce data entry. I am all for that as well.

    If you are the owner of a small business or work for a business that employs a payroll clerk, I can not recommend enough the benefits of this system of payroll. You may find the Gatekeeper Business
    Solutions systems as big of a benefit in your work day lives as I have. If so, visit:
    http://gatekeepersolutions.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=11
    to learn more about it.

     

     


  • Crystal Ball or Prophesy

    If you feel like you need a crystal ball to determine the location, the building of loads, the distribution, the shipments and the best routes for your company to use in the transportation industry, you may want to try using logistics software from Prophesy. Prophesy Logistics has been in the position of providing software solutions in the industry of shipping and transportation for over 20 years. Their expertise has grown with the demands of the industry and they excel at what they do for their customers. With Edward J. Forman, the President and CEO of Prophesy, they can help you drive your profits higher than ever imagined. Let their logistic software solutions help your company arrive just as they did ours.

    The list of software provider partners almost insures that you can use this product with your current provider. They are partnering at present with Trucker’s B2B, T-Check Systems, Relational Bus Systems, QuickBooks Pro by Intuit, QUALCOMM Incorporated, PeopleNet Communications Corporation, North American Technology and Nextel Communications. That is just a partial list. Should you have other needs, contact the company to verify if they are partnered with that company as well. You can reach them by phone at 1-877-243-2619.

    Our company took advantage of the unlimited use of support from this logistics software provider. The toll free telephone support is unlimited and free, as is the the support via electronic email. They also offer software maintenance for their customers and upgrades for the software that can assist you with your future needs as your business changes and grows. If you feel that Prophesy Logistics can assist your company with its software needs to take you further in
    the field of transportation and shipping, you can get more information at: .http://prophesylogistics.com/company/index.php. Prophesy is much better than the magical crystal ball.

     

     


  • Healthcare Business Practices: Breast Surgery

    Many women feel very self conscious about the way their breasts look. Some of the most common concerns that a woman has with her breasts are that they are too small, too big, hang too low, or their nipples are too large. When people are self conscious about the way they look it can affect their everyday life. A lot of women who are unhappy with their breasts decide to get breast surgery to correct the problem in order to have better self esteem. There are many qualified plastic surgeons that perform breast surgery in Tampa.

    When it comes to cosmetic surgery, you want only the best plastic surgeon working on your body. Someone who is inexperienced can really do a poor job that can lead to infection, a botched job, or even death. It is extremely crucial that you look around before deciding on a plastic surgeon to perform your surgery. Do as much research as you can on each plastic surgeon to see what other people have to say about them. If you have any second thoughts about choosing a plastic surgeon, trust your gut and spend time looking for another one that makes you feel absolutely comfortable.

    While doing research on breast surgery in Tampa, I came across the company New Tampa Plastic Surgery and found them to be highly recommended. The surgeon that they have there, G. Peter Fakhre, MD has many years of experience and has worked with some of the very best plastic surgeons in the United States. They do many different types of breast surgery including breast implants, breast reduction, breast reconstruction, breast lift, and nipple reduction. They also perform plastic surgery on other parts of the body as well including the face, body, and skin. Every person deserves to feel beautiful in their own skin and plastic surgery can be a way to feel absolutely amazing!

     


  • What Fashion Logistic Companies Can Do For You

    Fashion logistics is a term that many people are not that familiar with. We know what fashion is and we know what logistics is, but what exactly does the full phrase actually mean? This phrase describes anything that has to do with marketing and transporting any kind of fashion products. Many businesses out there need help with marketing or transporting their fashion products. This is why there are many different fashion logistics companies (such as Bergen Logistics ) that are there to help businesses who need help in this area so that the business can grow and gain profit.

    Companies like these help a business out with a variety of different things including taking orders, helping with direct marketing, managing a business account, paying the sales force, and processing credit applications. Other things these companies can help out with are: packing and shipping, managing customer returns, managing stock rotations with vendors, and distributing catalogs. Companies like these are top notch and highly experienced at what they do. Since these companies have teams of highly trained staff, businesses can feel good knowing that their customers are going to get exactly what they want in a very short amount of time.

    Customers expect their fashion apparel to be shipped to them and arrive in perfect condition and on time. If merchandise arrives late or damaged, the business can end up losing customers, which makes them end up losing money. This is why it is extremely important to make sure that the customer gets exactly what they want. Companies who deal with marketing and transporting these fashion apparel items are there to make sure customers are completely happy with the services that they received. These companies know exactly how to store these items so they don’t get damaged, pack the items properly, and ship them out in a way that proves to be the most reliable and the quickest!


  • 4 Tips to Buying Refurbished Surgical Supplies

    No industry is immune from economic trends, including the medical industry.  In an effort to cut costs, refurbished surgical supplies have proven to be an excellent choice.  The key to getting a great deal is focusing on overall value.  This will ensure that you are still receiving a high quality product, while minimizing your expenses.  These 4 tips will help you save money, while still buying quality products.

    1. Stick to Name Brand Products

    Even when buying used surgical supplies, sticking with name brand products is a must.  Even though the goal is saving money, you still get what you pay for.  There are several levels of used supplies – reconditioned, refurbished, and remanufactured.  In order to be considered refurbished, the product will have received new parts in order to meet or exceed OEM specifications.  It is often easier to find new parts for brand name products, which makes refurbishing them easier and more reliable.2. The Supplies Must Be in Good Working Order

    When buying used surgical supplies, it is vital that they are already in good working condition before you purchase them.  The best way option is to buy these products from a seller who offers at least a 90 day warranty.  That way, even if the product doesn’t work, it will be fixed at no additional cost.  Working with a reputable seller will make this easier as well.

    3. Always Get a Warranty

    It is vital to at least have a 90 day warranty to ensure that the products are refurbished correctly.  This is true whenever you buy a used product, but particularly important when investing in critical resources such as surgical supplies.

    4. Know Who Refurbished It

    Finally, you need to make sure that whoever is completing the refurbishing is a Certified Bio-Med Technician.  This will ensure that everything is done correctly and rebuilt to last.

    There are a number of benefits to buying refurbished surgical supplies and these 4 tips will help you make choose the right seller and right products every time.


  • Highlighting Nature through the Tattoo

    The abstract look of Polynesian tattoo designs has different meanings and symbolism. Because early Polynesians are close to nature, most of the symbolism include the different elements of nature like wind, fire, water, and the sun. These designs are being done by the tapu or tattooist depending on the person whom they putting on the tattoo. Some of the designs are for protection, the rites of passage, or to signify a status of a person. Continue reading 


  • David Blaine Has to Be the Best Magician Alive

    I really do believe that David Blaine has to be one of the best magicians alive, if not the best of all time. I know that he is one of the most entertaining performers that I have ever witnessed in my whole entire life, and when I found out from my brother that he had his very own online store, I knew that I would have to check it out for myself. I was very happy to be able to see all of the wonderful merchandise that was in the david blaine online store. I decided to buy a couple of the items that he had in there. When I received the mail delivery of my items, I knew that I was going to start having fun practicing some magic tricks. I just had to have a couple of my friends come over my house to check out the merchandise. When I was able to show them some magic tricks, they were surely glad to be entertained like they were at the time.

    As a performer, he’s got it all, and as a self-promoter, any business professional could afford to learn from him.


  • Buying Tips For Used Medical Equipment

    The purchase of used medical equipment might sound like a risky idea at first, particularly when the use of such tools needs a lot of expert or technical information, but it makes sound business sense. The most imperative feature of purchasing used medical equipment online is the guarantee that the auction site or reseller that sold it will stand at the back of their merchandise with continuing support and product information. Due to this reason, most purchasers look for a committed medical equipment site rather than a more common online auction.

    Searching for a very definite machine should be simple if you are on the right website. For instance, you should be able to hunt by keyword, brand name or product category, and request about the products directly on the web site via instant chat or email. The seller should also be able to offer accurate shipping rates, guarantees, return policies and other relevant information up front.

    When you call the Customer Service department, you should be smart enough to acquire more knowledge about the used medical equipment you want. The site’s workers should be able to give you with thorough information about the product before expecting you to spend various thousand dollars on it.

    For more information, visit Whittemore Enterprises.




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