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Some people blame the economy in these situations. Some other simply say that the economy does not matter at all, and that people are actually to blame. It’s true, there are cases in which people are to blame, but sometimes, the economy just has an impact on many of the businesses out there. We all make mistakes – just look at yves bouvier. All we have to do is to think smart.

We’ve written this article to help you with some tips and tricks on how to sell more if your business is in danger because of the economy.

The economy should not be your excuse

There will be days in which you’d have some difficult sales calls. That is when it’s so easy to blame the economy. People will hear about it and you’d probably sell even less. In an economy that’s decreasing, people should be interested in how to increase the calls and the level of the activity. The average seller cuts out about 37% of the calls. People should use the economy that’s going down as a warning and as a motivation to work better, and not as an excuse to fail. If you decide to back off, then your business will go down, too. If you focus on work, instead, your business should thrive.

Get smart when it comes to selling

There are going to be cases in which there will be fewer sales opportunity for you to take. In these cases, you have to do better with the things you already have. You should get better at selling. You can always read books, listen to CDs or watch DVDs, anything that can help you in getting people to buy your products. This strategy had helped a lot of people to improve their business when the economy suddenly went down.

This is also when you should focus on improving your skills. If you keep learning, you will get better at doing your job, and your business will thrive. 

Always have a happy attitude

Your attitude is sometimes what matters the most when it comes to your business. It should be sharp. There’s no time to hang around doing nothing. It’s time for you to do a little brainstorming and think of some good ideas to help your business. You also need to stay focused at all times. The people around you should be full of joy and positive thoughts. Negative people should not make their way into your life.

Price object and value

We all know that people are focused on price. Customers will do everything they can to get to the lowest price. So it’s important to build some value to your products. Think about your primary benefits, and how (and why) your products are better than your competition - what they do (or you) that is wrong. Think about the calls – and whether you can respond to the service calls faster than your competition or not.  

This not to be missed!

Madam Zuri Arrosa’s Burlesque Workshop for Beginners.

The Lion Hotel, Shrewsbury. Saturday 23rd March 2019 at 1:30pm. £4.00 per person. Tickets available via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/burlesque-dance-workshop-tic…

What to expect?
Lots of fun and laughter!

The workshop will start with a demonstration and then we’ll look at some basic moves which we will incorporate in to our final group routine. You’ll also have a whistle-stop tour of the history of burlesque and will discover your inner burlesque with my Burlesque name generator.

What to wear?
There is no chair or floor work in my beginner’s workshop so dress in whatever you feel comfortable in, so long as you are dressed (wink).

Who can come?
Anyone, the workshop is for all ages, sizes and genders. However, you might find it uncomfortable if you have any lingering hip or back problems.

Need more information?

Please contact my page Madam Zuri Arrosa

https://www.facebook.com/zuriarrosa/videos/519107095275217/ 

As Shropshire Council prepares to hold a Cabinet Meeting tomorrow (Wednesday March 20 2019) that will decide the next steps for three big development sites within its Local Plan Review, the Shropshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has submitted a question that will, again, question the Council’s approach to its development plans.

The central focus of CPRE’s current objection is that of the so-called “Strategic Development Sites” being proposed by the Council.  Charles Green, spokesperson for the CPRE, explains:

“Ever since its original publication in January 2017, we have queried major aspects of Shropshire Council’s proposed Local Plan Review.  Time and again we’ve tested the evidence used to justify the Council’s ambition which, at best, is vastly as odds with actual need. 

“Our opposition remains and this week, we’re focusing in particular on the Council’s analysis of the so-called Strategic Development Sites.  Specifically, we call in to question the Council’s belief that there exists a need for Shropshire to court the Black Country local authorities where, apparently, there is insufficient capacity to accommodate all of its own development needs.”

The CPRE’s submission that accompanies its question outlines how The Black Country figures being quoted are being updated and that Shropshire Council is, therefore, premature in referencing them.  Charles Green continues:

“Shropshire Council should not be contemplating the release of Green Belt land for a need (not ours!) that has yet to be tested, particularly when The Black Country is currently engaged in a call for sites.

“Furthermore, Housing Delivery Test figures for the West Midlands, in fact, show that the region as a whole is already at 138% of its delivery requirement over the past three years, whilst Shropshire and its nine neighbouring English Local Authorities stand at 188% delivery. 

“The position of our local planners is in my mind clear: they’re far more committed to courting developers, than really scrutinising the needs of Shropshire’s own people and this shouldn’t be allowed to continue.”

CPRE Shropshire also casts light on a number of additional, yet linked, issues.  Amongst these, the sustainability credentials (or lack of) of Shropshire’s Economic Growth Strategy; the fact that the three quoted ‘strategic’ development sites of Buildwas, Tern Hill Barracks and the Bradford Estate near Junction 3 of the M54 (in the Green Belt), are not so much ‘strategic’ as just ‘large’; the lack of the necessary evidence to release Green Belt land; and Shropshire’s continued flying in the face of ONS population forecasts, to the extent that their plans might see in-migration to Shropshire being four times its current projected level.  Charles Green concludes:

“Whilst CPRE tries to ensure that objections are raised with the backing of considered and justified evidence, Shropshire Council seems prone to “spinning” things.  We understand that these sites are already earmarked in the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Plan and that they will figure at the Midlands Development Conference in May.

“That suggests that any decision made today is simply an exercise in rubber stamping.  That is why, in a public forum, we are again trying to hold Shropshire Council to account.”

CPRE Shropshire’s full question to Cabinet is available on request.

ENDS

Notes: Further information on the Shropshire Council Cabinet Meeting taking place on Wednesday March 20 2019, along with all supporting information can be found by visiting: https://shropshire.gov.uk/committee-services/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=130&MId=3687&Ver=4  

Staff at the Shropshire base of the world’s fastest digital manufacturing firm have gone red to support this year’s Comic Relief fundraising campaign.

Employees at Telford-based Protolabs raised £1,036 after dressing head to toe in red on Friday and hosting a range of activities to support the annual initiative which provides funding for vulnerable people and communities in the UK and overseas.

Staff across the company, which manufactures custom prototypes and on-demand production parts, entered into the spirit of the day with senior managers even taking a turn in the stocks to have wet sponges thrown at them.

Lee Ball, General Manager of Protolabs in Telford said it had been an extremely fun day with everyone making a huge effort to dress up and take part in the planned activities.

“We’re delighted to have raised more than £1,000 for such a brilliant and worthwhile cause and we are extremely grateful to all those who participated especially the managers who ended up taking quite a soaking.

“Here at Protolabs we do our best to support national and local campaigns and it’s not the first time staff have worn red this year for a good cause.

“Many of us wore red to raise funds for four-year-old Zac Oliver and we were delighted to read about his good news earlier this week.”

For further information, please visit www.protolabs.co.uk

For the second year running Shrewsbury based Insurance Brokers Rees Astley sponsored the main music stage at Shropshire Oktoberfest held at the beginning of October.

Sometimes business insurance can seem like a jungle with potential pitfalls and problems around every corner, so that was our theme for the Rees Astley tent, which had been decked out with creepy crawlies, a zebra sofa, slime and an authentic jungle bridge - the Rees Astley Bush Tucker Trials!

Over the three day weekend staff from Rees Astley invited clients and visitors to test their nerves at the Bush Tucker Trials with the aim of having fun and raising vital funds for a local charity. Willing challengers were able to win a variety of prizes on the wheel of fortune and two lucky couples won tickets to visit the Shrewsbury Winterfest in the Quarry this December.

As well as visiting our jungle tent you may have also seen Rees Astley’s name sponsoring the main music stage at the festival. Recognised as being one of the leading insurance firms specialising in insurance for the performing arts and crafts industry, with thousands of artists, performers and organisations choosing to insure with us.

Rees Astley would like to say a big thank to everyone who contributed towards the fantastic amount of £264.38 which will be donated to Derwen College, a Further Education College situated in Oswestry who provide residential education for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. The money raised will go towards their 2018 £60k appeal to redevelop their fitness centre.

Advertisement by Becca Dean

The much-loved Battlefield 1403 was recently crowned best small farm shop of the year by the Farm Shop & Deli 2019 awards. But go back 616 years and this was the site of one of the bloodiest battles fought on British soil.

The Battle of Shrewsbury was fought between King Henry IV and a rebellious faction led by the Percy family in 1403, and it was the first time the English longbow was used on both sides of the battlefield.

Over the anniversary weekend of the Battle of Shrewsbury on the 27th and 28th July, Battlefield 1403 are set to take us back in time to medieval Shropshire, to see the sights of everyday life leading up to the battle.

During this family day out, you will get to see knights in armour and archers preparing for battle. There will be living history, including traditional crafts and cookery, with many activities to try your hand at throughout the day. National and regional organisations will join the festivities to show how medieval skills can still be used today.

At the end of each day, spectators will be able to take sides and cheer on their favoured army, as part of the battle is re-enacted on the original battlefield.

One of the event organisers, Matthew Howarth from Event Plan, comments, “This event will be a great way to commemorate one of the county’s most important moments in history. The planned re-enactments and demonstrations will transport the attendees back in time.

“During the weekend, the Churches Conservations Trust will be re-opening the Battlefield 1403 church. We wanted to highlight the connections the church has to the Battle of Shrewsbury, where it is rumoured that many were buried after the battle.”

The event is free to attend and will be on from 10am until 4:30pm each day, with the battle taking place at 4pm and demonstrations throughout the day.

If you work in business, and particularly if you run your own company, there will probably be times when big clients come to see you. When this happens, they may choose to stay overnight, and ideally, you will want to arrange some entertainment for them to ensure that they think well of you and enjoy their stay. The better you look after these important clients, the more work they can potentially give to your business, so it is certainly something to bear in mind. If you are worried about the prospect of entertaining your clients and you’re not sure where to start or what to do, here are some ideas on how to keep them happy.

Have A Plan

The first most important element of entertaining big, important clients is that you should have a plan in advance. Simply taking them out for a meal and then being unsure what to do next isn’t something that will endear you to them, especially if you promised them a fun evening full of entertainment. Make sure you have a full itinerary planned and ensure that anything that needs to be booked in advance is secured. The last thing you want to do is arrive at a venue to find that it is already full – if you have no backup plan, the evening could end on an early and rather sour note.

Ask Them

Once you know that you are taking someone (or more than one person) out for a good evening, it can be a good idea to check with them to see what they like or what they want to do. They may have a favourite restaurant, or they may love trying new cocktails, for example. Perhaps they want you to hire company for the evening, and you can find out more about hiring here. The key is to keep your client happy and to do what you can to facilitate them. If you want to show them something different, then add that into the mix too. It will always help if you can research them first so that you can take them to places they are sure to enjoy. 

Don’t Talk About Work

It may seem like an odd point to make, but talking about work and your business can be off-putting for your client. They already know what it is you do and how they benefit from it, and although you will often have a reason for taking your client out and showing them a good time (you may want them to upgrade their contract, or sign on for another year, for example) talking about it just isn’t fun. There is plenty of time for that during meetings, so steer clear of work talk if you possibly can. Entertain your clients is about creating a relationship so that future deals are easier, not about focusing on one imminent deal that needs to be finalised.

Don’t Do Business

Just as it’s important not to talk about business with your client or supplier during the evening, it’s also important not to talk about business with anything else either. Your phone might ring, you might get an email, but that doesn’t mean you should answer it or reply unless it’s extremely urgent. Taking time away from your guest to talk to someone else about business is rude and unprofessional, and is not going to look good in your client’s eyes, especially if they are left alone while you do it. Ideally, you should turn your phone off completely and concentrate on making sure your client has a fabulous time. You can also leave a voicemail or out of office email auto-reply that explains that you can’t answer right now but that you will as soon as possible.

Keep The Receipts

Entertaining business clients, partners, or suppliers might be fun, but it’s not the same as going out with friends and family, and it is possible to claim some or all of the money you spend back again when it comes time to submit your accounts. Make sure you keep all the receipts to send to your accountant, or if you choose to do your accounts yourself keep them in a safe place until you need them. This could save you a lot of money.

Listen When They Talk

Not everyone is a good listener, but when it comes to taking a client out for dinner or to a club, or anywhere else that they want to go, listening is all important. You’ll find out a lot about how they work this way, even though you’re not going to be talking about business. You’ll also be able to work out how to approach requests and queries in the future if you listen carefully to what they are saying in the present. Gaining as much information as you possibly can is hugely useful and can stand you in good stead as your relationship goes on. Plus, if the client knows you are happy to listen, they will think better of you in general.

Alcohol

Just because you are going out for an evening of entertainment, it doesn’t mean that you have to drink a huge amount (even if your client decides to). Drinking too much can lead to all kinds of problems including saying the wrong thing. Remember that even though you’re not in the office, this is still a business meeting of sorts, and not an evening out with friends. A professional demeanour at all times is essential to maintain an air of professionalism no matter what.

Remember Your Manners

If you know that you eat too fast or that your table manners leave something to be desired if you know that you can forget to say please and thank you at times, or any number of other small points that make up good manners, make sure you practice before you go out. Ask a friend or partner what they would suggest, and have them go through the evening with you. Your guest should be seated before you are, and they should choose the wine you’re having with dinner, for example. Napkins go on the lap and not in the collar. There are dozens of small things to remember, but they can make a big difference when you’re trying to make a good impression.

A local recruitment agency has announced the launch of its new CV writing service which aims to help jobseekers better their chance of standing out in the crowded jobs market.

Shrewsbury-based Red Recruitment has launched its new offer to give individuals the opportunity to have their CVs reviewed and enhanced by a professional team, to ensure that they get the most from their application and to give them a better chance of securing their dream job.

Meg Jones, Director of Red Recruitment, explained: “Although the latest quarterly figures show a positive growth in employment – which is good news all round for Shropshire -  we’re still keen on stressing the importance of having an up to scratch CV, so that when the time comes for employers to recruit, they can easily identify the best applicants.”

According to Red Recruitment, the chances of an application being pushed to the bottom of the pile by prospective employers is greatly increased if there are spelling mistakes, if the document is hard to read – including font styles and sizes - and if the jobseeker is actually applying for a role they aren’t qualified for. 

“There really is no second chance when it comes to making a good first impression, so it’s hugely important to nail it first time.  And because we know that when people are putting together their CVs, personal statements, and covering letters, they can often find it tricky or confusing, we’ve launched our new dedicated service, so that we can take away the stress and do it all for you.

“Anyone who is interested in finding out more about our services please do get in touch by calling the Red Recruitment offices on 01743 352222, visiting www.redrecruitmentsolutions.co.uk or emailing us on [email protected],” Meg concluded.

Having baseboards or not in a home is something every homeowner has to decide. This piece is addressing all there is to know about having floor trims. This will enable you to make the right decision when designing and structuring your home. Let’s get right to it.

Lots of homes have baseboards, but you have to know if yours need one as well. With the advancements of interior design materials, most professionals see little need for having baseboards installed. However, many individuals want these fixtures in their homes as they offer visual benefits and protect against damages. You can check this link https://victoreric.com/to-baseboard-or-not-to/ for more on how they add value to your property. 

They are seen as millwork and are available in various shapes and sizes. They do provide more balance to the décor of your space. Also, they better frame the home. Overall, baseboards offer a more contemporary look to a home. If more detailed designs are added to a room, the baseboards provide a transitional style.

Note that other options can provide a contemporary look to a home. You Just have to converse with an expert. The expert will offer you other excellent options. With this, you can make a better choice.

You could choose to have no baseboards installed in your home too. It can also turn out beneficial to you. Without this fixture, lines are displayed from the floor that reaches the wall uninterrupted. This also provides a contemporary style to a home design. One that needs no lines. This ensures that the designs in your home are simple and clean. It also offers a modern look for your space.

The only disadvantage of going without baseboard trims is that your walls are susceptible to damages. Without the fixture, brooms and vacuum cleaners can damage the walls. This is a primary reason why homeowners opt for the trims. That said, if your building doesn’t incur too much dirt without edges, you can create a unique space. The ability to put a shelf against your walls will give your room a classic touch.

Why Should You Opt for a Baseboard Trim?

Baseboard trim provides a fabulous and stylish look to a room. They serve a great function by protecting the bottom walls from damages. This, in turn, allows you to save lots of money on repairs.

Below are a few lists of benefits of having the trim installed:

• They protect the walls from accumulating dirt
• Help to stop insects from entering the house
• protects the bottom walls from vacuums and brooms
• provides a contemporary look to a room
• Enables expansion and contraction in the home
• They hide flaws

Most homeowners choose to baseboard their room to tie everything together. They provide better functionality to the room. Without the fixture, the house looks cheap and simple. You can check this website for more on adding functional features to your living space. 

When a house is new, it is difficult to find cracks or flaws. This might be a reason for you to consider the no baseboard option. However, a building is bound to incur damages as it gets older. With the floor trims, you cover the cracks and flaws on the bottom wall. Also, the edges ensure the walls do not retain moisture. Moistures are known to damage walls. So, a fixture that prevents water damage in the room is an excellent idea.

Selection Tips for a Baseboard Trim

The trims are usually 2 to 8 inches tall. They can be purchased as a single strip or in smaller and separate pieces. You can also opt for a larger size compared to the standard ones. This is because a more significant size allows you more flexibility.

Tips for selecting your fixture:

Tip 1 

Select a fit that matches your casing. This will help better blend the design of your room.

Tip 2 

Always consider the height of your trim. Choose larger sizes for a more intricate design.

Tip 3 

When opting for a DIY design, choose the best materials. Also, use glues and caulks. This is much more precise and easier than nails. Also, to get better results, ensure to dry-fit the pieces.

Tip 4 

Why Should I Consider Baseboard Trims?

Without the trim, your room is provided an aesthetic look. There is a unique yet simple look to the space Without the trim, the walls hit the floor without anything in between. This makes the house easier to maintain.

There are several ways to achieve a no-baseboard look. Some of these fixtures include no base at all, a flash-mount, a reveal, and a bead gap.

A revealing look ensures that edges do not meet. This, in turn, forms a gap. A flush-mount look is when a baseboard flush is installed with the drywall. The process will involve the wall being held back from the floor. The space between can then be plastered over. This will ensure that lines are eliminated.

A bead gap involves a technique whereby the contractor uses a bead between the wall and floor. The bead is a plastic fit that the installer uses to form a gap while finishing the bottom wall.

Is Foregoing Baseboard Trims Cost-Effective?

Homeowners believe that without trims, they can save money during construction. However, without this fixture, the dry waller must be precise on how they complete the flooring and drywall.

The fixtures ensure that imperfections are covered. So, you need the best installers to do clean and precise work for you. For clean and accurate results from a professional, you need to pay more for labor costs. The link here https://www.thisoldhouse.com/cabinets/21018036/21-ways-to-save-on-your-house-remodel has suggestions on how to save on home upgrades. 

My Take

Choosing a baseboard trim is a good idea. This is because they create a finished look for a home. Remember to select a style that better suits your room. If you are someone who loves contemporary and minimalistic aesthetics, you can forego trims. Do not forget that preceding decorations can be labor-intensive. And this can cost you a lot more money. In the end, it all depends on what you want.