#just retail work at a tech section of a general goods store.

[mrcatfishing]

Job interview is in ten minutes. Really need this work, so wish me luck!

[yugospersonal]

Part 2 - Back In The Saddle

Ladies and gentlemen, after all that character creation, we finally get to step outside to theMojave Wasteland. Thankfully we aren’t unarmed as Doc Mitchell was kind enough to give us a couple of dynamite as we have tagged our explosives skill. He would give us a 9mm pistol if we tagged Guns and a laser pistol if we tagged Energy Weapons. If you tag Melee or Unarmed, you’ll get a Straight Razor and a Boxing Tape respectively alongside a 9mm pistol. I got a 9mm Submachine Gun and a Laser Pistol because I repaired the 9mm SMG from Doc’s house using a repair check of 25 and picked up the Laser Pistol from a box.

Though if you are already well versed in the game, you might’ve came to the conclusion that somethings might seem missing, that’s because I made the executive decision to not use the items that are given to you by the Courier’s Stash DLC even if the Mercenary’s Grenade Rifle will help me a lot due to my high explosives skill (except the Vault 13 Canteen, can never leave that from the inventory)

If you don’t know what the Courier’s Stash DLC is, there were 4 different pre-order item packs avalible at different retailers. But with the release of Gun Runner’s Arsenal, they decided to make a compilation of all the pre-order bonuses and then sell them for a dolar. Though you’ll most likely have those items if you bought the ultimate edition.

While going at the wiki to look for the item’s list that I’ve learned that the poster used to advertise the “Tribal Item Pack” the Broad Machate used in it uses the model of the regular machate instead of the unique one the broad machate has in game

But enough of useless trivia, let’s go thank the person who saved us.

“Don't mention it! I'm always ready to lend a helping hand to a stranger in need.”

“How did you happen to find me?”

“I was out for a stroll that night when I heard the commotion up at the old bone orchard. Saw what looked like a bunch of bad eggs so I laid low. Once they'd run off, I dug you up to see if you were still kicking. Turns out, you were, so I hauled you off to the Doc right quick.”

“I've never seen a robot like you before.”

“I’m a Securitron, RobCo security model 2060-B. If you ever see any of my brothers, tell them Victor says howdy.”

After I thanked the good robot who was kind enough to help us, I decided to enter the Goodsprings General store to get some more ammo.

“I've got plenty of supplies for sale. Even got some weapon mods and special ammo - well worth the caps, if you ask me. If you're hurting for caps, I've also got boxes of surplus ammo in the miscellaneous section. They're not great, but you get what you pay for.”

Weapon mods and special ammo are stuff introduced in New Vegas, if you find them in the inventories of vendors you can buy modifications for your weapons to make them even better like turning to Varmint Rifle from a mediocre starter weapon to a somewhat devistating sniper rifle.

Special Ammo are stuff like Armor Piercing and Hollow Point ammo; armor piercers do slightly less damage but will also ignore 15 points of DT and Hollow  Points will x3 your opponent’s DT while giving you a 1.75 higher damage, so it’s best used on low armored or unarmored targets. There are much more interesting types of ammos in the game especially for the shotguns but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

I came here to buy some new ammo so I bought some .223 ammo so that I may use it in a 5.56 ammo weapon, it’s cheaper than all 5.56 ammo and only does slightly less damage

While going to the Prospector Saloon like the Doc told us so Sunny Smiles might teach us how to survive in the wasteland, I’ve met a jolly old timer sitting in front of the saloon. Decided to talk to him because who else than an old man will explain what’s going on the reigon the best?

“Why do they call you Easy Pete?”

”You were a prospector - like digging for gold and silver?”

“Nah, nah - means I poked through old buildings looking for working tech and such. Some folks just call it "salvaging," but never liked the term. Way I see it, salvage means it's broken, near-worthless. Me, I looked for the good stuff - guns, chems, spare parts. Good money in it.”

“ Did you ever find anything good while prospecting?”

“Nope. Had a pretty good claim once, way out east by the river, but got run off by Raiders. Eventually, got too old to keep going out.”

“What’s wrong with NCR?”

“Don't get me wrong - the NCR's got a lot of decent folk in it. It's just that they make you part of them whether you like it or not. Towns like Goodsprings and Primm don't stay independent for long, not if you've got something the NCR wants. Still, the NCR keeps the Legion away.”

“Tell me about the Legion”

“They're slavers, led by a guy named Caesar (SEA-ser). Or Caesar (KAI-zar). Not sure how you're supposed to say it. A couple of years ago they tried to take over Hoover Dam, but the NCR beat them back. The NCR didn't - or couldn't - finish the job, though. The Legion's got its strength back and is getting ready for another round at the Dam. My money's still on the NCR winning, but you never know. We've been hearing stories about Legionaries on the Nevada side of the river, so keep a gun handy. You don't want to get caught by them.”

“What’s so important about the Hoover Dam”

“The Dam powers a lot of New Vegas. And then there's all that clean water lying in Lake Mead, too. Anybody who owns the Dam owns the territory.”

“ Do you know anything about the people who attacked me?”

“The one in the fancy suit seemed to be calling the shots, that's as much as I know. Other folks in town might know more. Word of advice, though: if you ever catch up with him, watch out. The man's got cold eyes like a snake. Can't be trusted, I'd say.”

After talking about the big players in the Mojave Desert, I enter Prospector Saloon only to be greeted by a dog barking at me. Thankfully her owner, Sunny Smiles, was there to calm her down

We ask her to help us to learn how to survive out here and she decided to help us buy teaching us how to shoot. For that we first gotta go outside.

Here’s a fun fact, after she gives you the Varmint Rifle and you drop the ammo it uses on the ground, Sunny will have some unique dialouge and some extra ammo

I dunno Sunny, broken glass can be quite dangerous.

You taught me how to shoot a gun, of course I’d be glad to help.

Gotta dress the best way I can too, decided to also use a Laser Pistol to conserve a bit of the 5.56 ammo.

“Bunch of little monsters is what they are. Seems like Doc Mitchell treats more gecko bites than anything else.  Let's see if we can get a little closer. If we move quietly, we can get the jump on 'em. More likely to hit something vital that way.”

Thanks Sunny, but sneaking ain’t in my style! Comes with the territory of being good at explosives

After taking care of one of the Gecko’s, I press “V” to enter V.A.T.S. so that I can hit him on the head. Each body part comes with it’s own health and if it drains it’ll get crippled.

A few caps more you say? I’m in

Oh, speaking of equiping the Laser Pistol to conserve ammo, look at what we have here!? I get to have a free melee weapon

Geez lady, you should’ve been more careful. You should know there are a lot of Geckos in these parts, you live here!

:)

After this Sunny tells us that she’s going to teach us how to craft stuff but I think all those are self explanatory; you use campfires for food, reloading benches for ammo and workbenches for a whole lot of things. In this tutorial she’s going to ask us to make a Healing Powder using a Broc Flower and a Xander Root. You can find the Xander Root in front of the Goodspring Elementary School (right of Doc Mitchell’s house if you turn your back into it) and the Broc Flowers on the Goodsprings Cemetary, which we will go right now.

Now that the tutorial has concluded she tells us to say hi to Trudy who runs the Prospector Saloon because she likes to welcome the newcomers to town but before that I have something else to do.

We got ourselves a shovel, let’s see if the dead has some good presents to give us?

While going up the cemetary, I managed to encounter a Bark Scorpion. Huh... didn’t think they would appear here but alright.

Shit, not only we encountered a Bark Scorpion but we also have a fly infestation, fitting for a grave

(After a round of bug extermination and grave robbing later)

There was... literally nothing worth of here. Weird, I remember some of them having good loot. Must be slightly randomized like some containers in game.

Though wait... what’s this?

Cool, I’ll try to find someone who’ll pay good money for this.

I was lucky to survive two bullets to the head, hopefully this grave will keep staying empty.

Though I think we’ve made Trudy wait long enough. Let’s drop by in and say hi like Sun- Huh, what the hell??

Looks like we’ll have a trouble brewing in the town.

“I'm trying to track down the people who attacked me. Know anything about them?”

“Not much, other than they're a bunch of freeloaders who expected a few rounds on the house. I was able to get them to pay up, though. Of course, one of the Great Khans did knock my radio to the floor "by accident," and it hasn't been working since.”

“Did my attackers say where they were going?”

“They were having some kind of argument about it, but the guy in the checkered coat kept shushing them. Sounded like they came in from the north through Quarry Junction. If that's the case I can't say I blame them for not wanting to go back.”

“Why is that?”

“That whole area's overrun with the kind of critters that just get mad if you shoot 'em. Merchants avoid that whole stretch of I-15 like it's radioactive. Which it could be for all I know.”

“So where were they headed?”

“I didn't hear exactly, but the leader was talking about the Strip. Fella wants to get there and avoid the 15, he'd have to go east. Take Highway 93 up.”

“Want me to take a look at your broken radio?”

Thankfully, didn’t break too hard once it fell down. I just need to pop the stuff that fell out, back in and it should be good to go. Let’s tune the radio properly aaaaaand....

“-ackage courier found shot in the head near Goodsprings has reportedly regained consciousness, and has made a full recovery. Now THAT is a delivery service you can count on!”

“Those are our stories this hour. This is Mr. New Vegas signing off! Just kidding. I'm not going anywhere. My love for you is too strong.”

“Got some Dean Martin coming up talking about the greatest feeling in the world: love. Ain't That a Kick in the Head? Heh-heh. It sure is, Dino, it sure is.”

Back to the Master Post

[getengage]

How to Attract Customers in Retail Stores During COVID-19?

COVID-19 has shown retailers that their past strategies for footfall increase are no longer effective. To offset in-store traffic loss due to COVID-19, retailers need innovative solutions.

This blog is written to help retailers navigate the difficulties of COVID-19 with seven working ideas to increase footfall to your retail store.

But before that, let's understand what is footfall in retail marketing.

What is footfall in retail marketing?‍

Footfall meaning: Number of people who enter a store or venue in an hour. Also, footfall means the number of customers you get to your retail outlet per hour, week, and month on average.

Knowing the footfall to your retail store can help you decide how many products you need to stock, which days of the week are best for promotions, and what type of promotional offers work well.

What Is A Retail Store And What Is Retail Marketing?

A retail store sells goods and services to the end-users, called customers. And retail marketing is the process of promoting awareness and interest in retail goods and services to generate sales from potential customers.

Let's now look into the seven ideas to increase footfall to your brick-and-mortar retail store.

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‍How to increase footfall in retail during COVID-19?

The pandemic has drastically impacted customer behavior. People prefer shopping online to brick-and-mortar purchases, and consumers are limiting their spending on a range of items - investing only in essentials is the norm now (McKinsey).

What's more, customer loyalty is plunging awfully. If retailers do not have a come-back strategy, it's going to be hard to stay on top of the game. On top of that, to pull off a rulebook on how to increase footfall in retail during COVID-19 is no easy feat.

That is why I have compiled seven ideas to increase footfall to your store. Read on and be enlightened!

1.Abide by COVID-19 protocols for footfall increase

As a preliminary step, be well-informed of the COVID-19 protocols. Don't implement this merely under the government norms, instead take extra measures to show customers that you care!

Most importantly though: adhere to these guidelines religiously and never forget customer health is your top priority. Endorse contactless service at all possible points so as not to let any opportunity slip by.

And here are other things you’d want to implement in your brick-and-mortar store for footfall increase.

Have an automated entrance

Deploy hygiene counters

Fix thermal sensors in the entrance

Have an isolation space for those showing symptoms of the coronavirus

Lay an inner pathway that customers could use in your shop

Fix sneeze guards in the checkout counters

Ensure to have ventilation systems

Do give your customers the ease of a comfort room

2. Run in-store promotions to boost store traffic

Wondering how to attract customers to your store?

Well, discounts are a perfect way to attract new customers and retain existing ones. When you want to increase customer traffic in a brick-and-mortar store, give customers an offer that only works inside the store.

For example, Target's program, Cartwheel offers 5% to 50%, off specific items when customers shop in-store to increase foot traffic.

Much like the aforementioned example, there are various other ways to endorse in-store promotions. Below are a few techniques brick and mortar retailers can use to increase foot traffic in their store:

Offer a “Bring your family or friend” discount – this gives your customers a valid reason to visit your store. And when this takes on a chain reaction, you may rapidly increase the customer traffic.

Surprise your consumers with free samples of your products. This would allow them to try some new brands and products.

If you’d want to reduce your excess stock post the quarantine time, try running a multi-buy campaign.

Use Ingage to boost store traffic! Get your personalized demo here.

3.Enhance in-store shopping experience with digital signages

If you are wondering how to increase footfall in restaurants, or any retail outlet for that matter, digital signages are your best bet. They are innovative and amazingly powerful when it comes to empowering your customers in-store.

Digital signage is a  type of advertising that uses a video screen to display marketing messages. They can be used for attracting customers, conveying information, and promoting merchandise.

If you are wondering how to increase footfall during COVID-19, then consider these ideas to increase sales in retail stores:

Offer surprise discounts like “pay what you want” – this will make your customers feel valued and loved by encouraging them to visit more often.

Giveaway free samples so that customers get an opportunity to try new brands/products.

Also, if you have excess inventory post quarantine time, run multi-buy campaigns.

Some more examples of how digital signage is used for ways to increase sales in retail stores are as follows:

Grocery stores and supermarkets use digital signage to show recipes, make grocery lists, or serve as an information center.

Retail outlets in malls that have fashion sections can display the latest trends on their screens so customers know what’s new. This helps them pick out something they might like quickly.

Some restaurants showcase menus on screens while others even project live cooking shows! These displays help with menu navigation too; helping a diner decide between chicken tikka masala or steak tartare by showing pictures of both dishes at once.

4.Leverage beacon notification to attract customers to your store

The beacon technology is a way to implement a tracking system indoors. A beacon is an inaudible signal that can be tracked and act as the trigger for other events like sending notifications about deals, discounts, or new products.

Beacon technology helps with driving footfalls by giving customers an indoor mapping experience of your store's inventory. This ensures they always know where they are going and what’s around them. The navigation reminds them of their proximity to items on display so there’s never any confusion over whether something is nearby or farther off.

Beacon notification also increases customer engagement; through this tech, users get notified of discounts, deals, and new arrivals as they move around the store.

Along with this technology, you can also use geofencing so that when a customer enters your store's radius, they get an alert on notifying them of specials in the area or location of products while providing directions to their desired product.

You should consider implementing beacon notification for attracting customers from all over because it is cost-effective and easy to set up. They're compatible across devices such as phones, tablets, laptops, etc., which means footfall increase is just one step away!

5.Train your salespersons to become the shopper's friend

Educating your salespersons on how to be consumers’ friends is important. They should be knowledgeable about what products are popular and in-demand so that they can help the customers find exactly what they want while at the same time giving guidance on how to save money by telling them where discounts and deals can be found.

It's an excellent way of building customer relationships and increasing traffic to retail stores.

For instance, Denver’s Cherry Creek does an exemplary job on this. The customer has penned the experience thus:

“One of my friends was getting married in a couple of months and stopped by the store where he and his groomsmen were getting their tuxedos. He was greeted by name and with a cold beer. Handshakes and hugs all around. When we left, I turned to my friend and asked, “Do you know them?” He said, “Yeah, they’re helping me with my tux.”  (Source: Vendhq)

6.Reconceptualize the checkout counters

Customers abandon their purchases because of long lines at the checkout. With the pandemic out there, this could be one of the reasons why the retail foot traffic is diminishing. (The Baymard Institue)

To overcome this hassle, and add another way to increase footfall in retail stores, you can reconceptualize the checkout counters. Some ideas are adding more till counters, or installing in-app checkout. This way customers don’t have to wait in queues for long periods and can make the purchase right there and then.

7.Encourage BOPIS (Buy Online Pick-up In-store)

True, consumers are inclining to online purchases as opposed to in-store shopping, but you can turn it to your advantage. In fact, an ICSC report cites that 69% of customers who went to collect their orders eventually bought additional items.

To implement BOPIS for your retail store, you need to have a centralized platform that allows you to manage orders, sales, and customers.  This helps you to deliver a personalized customer experience.

In combination with BOPIS, another way to promote footfall into the store and drive sales in retail is by bringing your website in-store. And this will be a good move if you have multiple stores and not all the stock in one place.

So people could browse your eCommerce site in-store for products they want but which aren't available at their local shop. If they show interest, you can then let them know that associates can place an order for these items, then deliver them individually to their home when ready of course!

This is yet another savvy way to increase footfall to your retail store.

How to calculate footfall in retail?

Now that you know how to increase footfall to your retail store, you must know how to calculate footfall in retail as well.

This is because, when you know how to calculate footfall in retail it can help you  with many retail metrics like:

How to plan your store for peak footfall times?

How much stock you need in the store and how often you'll need to restock it?

What products are selling well on an hourly basis? This is so crucial information for retailers that will help inform decisions about where to place certain items or which ones may be more popular than others etc.

When stores should have promotions (if they want), discounts, and raise weekend sales?

It can also help you gain insights such as how many people are coming into your store per hour and how much money is being spent.

Also, calculating the number of customers that enter your store provides valuable information about how many chances you had to make a sale. By dividing your transactional sales by the footfall data, you can determine what percentage of shoppers that came into your store made a purchase (your conversion rate).

Retailers can calculate footfall using "Beam Break" technology. Most retailers have the main entrance, and typically install an infrared beam across it. As each customer walks in the store, they get a count and by dividing it by two, retailers can see how many people come to their stores.

Learned how to increase footfall in retail during COVID-19?

We hope this blog gave you an insight into how to increase footfall in restaurants, malls, and other retail outlets.

Increase footfall in retail during COVID-19 with Ingage! Get your free demo here.

But to get a detailed blueprint, I suggest you read the White Paper we have compiled.  It has research from experts in the industry to help you increase footfall.

Here's a gist of what the White Paper covers:

How have pandemics catalyzed technological innovations

Customer sentiment and behavior during COVID-19

An omnichannel customer engagement strategy to drive sales in retail and footfall

The ultimate roadmap to increase retail footfalls

How to build the perfect loyalty program to turn foot traffic into brand ambassadors?

I'm sure that whatever questions were unanswered in the blog would be answered in this intense research-backed White Paper. Download your free copy now and bring in more foot traffic and increase your retail sales!

[hempgaming413]

Where does logitech gaming software store profiles

Wolfsgamingblog.com Web site. Wolf's Gaming Blog Xbox One particular & Computer Gaming, And Board Games.

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If You Do Not (Do)GAMING Now, You can Hate Yourself Later

Actually glad that my weblog inspired you to get started your personal. Yes it really is hard work and it takes some time to grow, but if you do it properly you can have a good online brand. Beginning the weblog is only the beginning, so make positive to study the rest of my articles in the Gaming Weblog Series which will take you via all the steps. If you have any inquiries do not hesitate to ask me, I'm delighted to assistance where I can.

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[bruin-studyblr]

back for a minute! Hello again studyblr!

So some updates with me, just for fun:

This studyblr’s been largely ignored for a couple years now, given that I... don’t study anymore since I graduated, hah. A lot has happened. Not that I updated here particularly often, or wrote about myself in much detail, but I’m working on myself in more ways than one. And part of that involves being able to talk about my accomplishments and practicing that kind of thing.

By some miracle, I graduated on time, in spring quarter of 2018, from the UCLA Computer Science department. Since then, it’s basically been a direct funnel into the tech world, as most are expected to do. I got a job as an entry-level software engineer for a retail company in Seattle, and moved up here the August after graduating, starting work in September.

Work was treating me well! Solid engineer starting pay, good work life balance, decent benefits (and a fantastic discount), interesting work but nothing terribly stressful - working for retail means at worst a mistake costs some sales, but nothing life threatening. I was learning a lot. It’s a bit hard to make friends in a new city, especially Seattle since it’s known for being generally full of introverts.

I can’t say exactly what gave me the idea, but I’ve had my eye on our User Experience (UX) designer role for a while. Engineers work with designers every so often on projects, and their role seemed interesting to me. I realized I tend to be a very visually oriented person - if I can see what I’m working on, especially from the customer’s perspective, it’s easier to keep my attention. I thought I’d try to be a front-end developer first, and then see if there’s an easy transition into UX. It just hasn’t been that simple.

So I focused on learning as much as I could as an engineer. People came and left from the company, I lost a manager, our team was in disarray for a few months, we got a new manager... things changed a lot. And through it all I realized I was getting more and more burnt out with engineering. I started to go from feeling good about work, to neutral, to actively disliking the thought of work every morning when I woke up. I started looking at UX certificate programs that were part-time and designed for professionals. The pressure from work plus my own pressure to just get started on a new career path was becoming a lot for me to juggle.

And then COVID-19 happened.

Retail took a huge hit. People were losing jobs, shopping less, unable to go out to stores... and my company furloughed a huge portion of employees. Myself included. With a projected return date, but no promise that they’ll be able to give us our jobs and pay back.

It was when I hardly mourned my job loss that I realized what an absolute blessing in disguise this was. How burnt out I really have been. I’m so much better off mentally now that I don’t work. (Though in this society, I’m sure that would be the case for a lot of people - capitalism binds us to productivity for survival...)

So what better time than my furlough to do a deep dive into a new career path? I’ve signed up for multiple online courses for introductions into UX, and that’s how I’m spending my quarantine. I’m back to studying, and it feels so much more captivating and self-willing than I felt at UCLA, which is a little depressing.

I want to build a portfolio in this time. I want to set myself up to be able to start a new career, to apply to jobs in it and actually have work and training worth looking at. It’s hard to motivate myself sometimes, but at the end of the day, the more research I do the more I want it.

Might start a blog section on my new portfolio where I log my journey, and make posts like this. Who knows?

If you got this far, thank you for listening to my story.

[home-working]

The One Where I Become a Product Reviewer

Hey there, fellow kids! Jumping on the already-parked annual back-to-school bandwagon, I bring to you an AWESOME new blog post highlighting my FAVOURITE 15″ LAPTOP BACKPACK PICK! Get ready for at least 145 paragraphs of preamble before I reveal this NUMBER ONE TOP 100% BEST 15″ LAPTOP BACKPACK PICK and DIY BACKPACK HACK!!

I also realised I needed a post in my “lifestyle blog” repertoire that might convince people to send me free products? So this is that post. Search engine optimization.

Backstory

On February 19, 2019, esteemed letterer and all-around Creative Professional Jessica Hische tweeted out that she was looking for a new, fashionable laptop backpack and wanted suggestions. I happened to see this tweet that night and thought, “Maybe I, myself also a Creative Professional, need a new, fashionable laptop backpack as well?” I read through the mostly terrible (???) suggestions from her followers, saw one I liked, and then, with the quick late-night text approval of my probably-drunken sartorial consultant T, impulse-bought a $235 backpack.

The Arrival

A week later The Backpack arrives. It’s partially leather! It smells very new! It’s literally made by a Creative Professional for Creative Professionals! It’s so nice that I’m already worried about ruining it with thoughts of biking or commuting. But the straps are kind of stiff and uncomfortable on my delicate mammary glands. And did I say it’s pretty expensive?!

It’s the kind of backpack I’d be happy to keep if it were, say, $79. Maybe even $89. But $235?! For a backpack that’s not even some sexy upscale Creative Professional household brandname?? My lower middle-class upbringing prevents me from committing to such an expenditure on which I’m only lukewarm. What to do?

The Virgo/Libra Cusp Solution

Obviously I go out and buy two more backpacks.

All my children.

On Being a Virgo/Libra Cusp-er

I’m on the Virgo/Libra cusp which makes me the perfect person to review anything because I’m really picky and really indecisive. This means that if I’m forced to make a decision about anything, I generally change my mind multiple times and lose sleep in the process of over-thinking every minute detail, what fun! (For the record, I’m also strictly adhering to the deeply-scientific, back-of-your-local-free-weekly astrology column definitions of these signs. [Also, unnecessary childhood trauma story, I never really knew how to astrologically-identify growing up because as a cusper my sign categorization changed from paper to paper? The struggle was—and I cannot stress this enough—real.])

Laptop Backpacks: Necessary?

“Why does one need a special laptop backpack?” you might ask. Obviously, you don’t. No one needs anything. Why do we buy things, to feel a brief sense of happiness or accomplishment in our lives? Does it work for you the way it definitely and always 100% works for me? Leave your response in the comments!

But also I’ve never had a bag that was made for a laptop, so I figured I should probably get a backpack that's actually functional and isn’t painful to carry heavy shit around in all day?

Criteria

In order to be considered for this review, a potential backpack had to meet the following criteria:

Must hold a 15″ MacBook Pro

Enough padding to protect that laptop without a case

Must be comfortable to use while biking

Unisex design

Is black/screams “Creative Professional”

Bonus points: also screams “... who deserves a large salary”

In addition to my a laptop, I assembled a weight/capacity testing control group with the following everyday accessories:

Work essentials: mouse, laptop charger, Moleskine notebook, pencil

Life essentials: overnight kit, moisturizer, deodorant, underwear, sports bra, water bottle

Um, glasses and some other crap: eyeglasses & case, dirty socks, folded blanket, Le Creuset 18cm cast-iron pot

🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒 The Backpacks 🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒

Bag option #1: The ISM Backpack

The ISM retails for $235 USD; it’s only available online but comes with free shipping and returns in the USA. It ships in a pretty box with a pretty branded dust bag and a bunch of tissue that smells of “Instagram unboxing moment”.

I wore this bag out in public a few times: to the work lounge at the Public Hotel (a hotspot for “cool-looking people” working remotely), to pay a visit to my old MoMA office, and to a job interview. Did I feel like a Creative Professional? You bet I did! But then my former coworker commented that the bag made me look like a “techy person”, which ruined everything it had going for it. (There is a fine line between Creative Professional and Startup Chic that I refuse to cross. It involves hoodies.)

Left: fancy regal satin lining, to remind you that you’re the millennial queen you are. Right: full bag, with front pocket that is great for fitting flat stuff and maybe only flat stuff.

It fit everything in the “capacity” control group, albeit quite snugly, but its real downfall was the straps: although they were quite hearty, being both wide and well padded (which would be great for those with flat chests), their stiff sturdiness meant they were very inflexible, and basically cut into my breasts any time I raised my arms together, as one would if biking:

MEINE POOR BOOBS.

ISM owner/designer Justin emailed me after I returned the bag, and explained they were working on a smaller version for 13″ laptops. I explained this doesn’t help people with mammary glands who own 15″ laptops. Per Justin:

I feel what you mean Christy, a bag that fits a 15" laptop and is unisex has been a tough design challenge given the size difference between males and females. We have been able to shorten the straps to accommodate though.

I get it. Designing for the fact that 50% of the population has boobs is hard! Did you know that basically everything is designed around men and their stupid bodies?? It's also subsequently a prime example of how e-comm genders backpack sizing: you’ll find that 15″ laptop bags are generally only found in the “Men’s” section of websites. I need a drink.

Pros

Looks and feels fancy

Separate laptop pocket from main compartment

Water and weather resistant

Good amount of padding everywhere

Real leathurrrr bottom

Bitches be loving gold zippers

I am weirdly very into the simple strap adjustment design (not pictured but trust me that it’s nicely done)

Cons

High price point for my feeble income

Cut into my boobs

Front pocket is pretty difficult to put stuff in due to being so flat

Makes me look like a tech bro

Did not get the job I interviewed for while using it

Rating

Comfort: ★★☆☆☆ Creative professional-ness: ★★★★★ Female compatibility: ★☆☆☆☆ (one star for gold zipper) Value for monies: ★★★★☆ (if you don’t bike or have boobs) Overall: ★★★☆☆

🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒 Bag option #2: MUJI Water Repellent Backpack

I bought this bag at the MUJI store for a very reasonable $49 USD. Like everything MUJI, it’s pretty decent quality both in materials and design, and feels like it’ll last a while.

Unfortunately, I didn’t end up testing this “in the real world” because, whoops, it only comfortably fits a 13″ laptop. But I did uncomfortably fit my 15″ laptop inside, really stretching the limits of the side panels, and then managed to cram the test “capacity” content on top (with room to spare!). I then did a “hunch test”, folding myself over as one would on a road bike, and found that there was barely any padding on the back panel, and my spine was knocking against the hard surface of my computer. Not cool! Plus the back did not have a mesh surface, literally making it not cool on a sweaty back.

Yes I get it, I have a big stupid computer.

Pros

Nice quality

Large capacity

Water repellent

Has a secret little back pocket you’ll probably never use

Has those tacky side pockets for water bottles which are surprisingly handy for sunglasses or pocket chargers

Cons

Made for a 13″ laptop

Non-meshed back

Not enough back padding

Rating

Comfort: ★★★☆☆ Creative professional-ness: ★★★★☆ Female compatibility: ★★★★★ Value for monies: ★★★★★ Overall: ★★★★☆+

🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒 Bag option #3: UNIQLO Water Repellent Backpack

Right after purchasing the MUJI bag I walked across the street and picked this up for $29.90. YOLO!

Realising that is was yet another bag made for 13″ laptops, I could immediately tell that the quality was much lesser than MUJI’s: it was much lighter in weight, and the fabric thinner. Look at those ugly shoulder straps where the fabric is bunching. The front pocket’s structure is so weak that it sags. Sad!

But: pretty good akshully?!

I again force-fit my behemoth laptop and belongings into the small frame, yet, contrary to expectation, this thing was comfortable AF?! And even had room to spare. The straps were super soft and cushy and malleable around my boobs, and the “hunch test” revealed amazingly thick layers of padding on two sides of the back panel, with a thinner center panel that relieves any pressure on your spine. What kind of ugly genius is this?

Pros

Stupidly comfortable

Large capacity

Water repellent

Again, tacky side pockets, this time with an angled top hem

Cons

Made for a 13″ laptop

Pretty cheap and ugly looking

Pretty cheap and ugly feeling

Rating

Comfort: ★★★★★ Creative professional-ness: ★★☆☆☆ Female compatibility: ★★★★★ Value for monies: ★★★★☆ Overall: ★★★★☆

🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒🎒 Other opshuns, you ask?

There’s a few other mid-range “nice” bag brands I was looking into online, such as the one which esteemed Creative Professional Jessica Hische ended up going with, but let’s just assume I left them out because they lack the quality needed for this rigorous assessment and not because the bag designer whom I went on a date with decided to ghost me after I sprained my ankle while in Canada. Ahem.

Final Verdict... and a Backpack Hack (!!) (...Backhack™?!)

Although I was quite impressed with the comfort the UNIQLO model provided (both to my body and my wallet), I was actually going to declare this experiment a failure and return all the backpacks. Until, that is, I took a closer look at the interior construction of the UNIQLO and MUJI bags: they measured as though they should be tall enough for my latop, and yet the MacBook corners stubbornly stuck out. Time to play detective! 🔍

Turning the bags inside-out, I noticed they both included a superfluous, space-reducing seam at the bottom of the main pocket. WTF.

UNIQLO bag before & after: the difference a simple seam (and lack of colour temperature matching) makes!

By removing this seam on the UNIQLO model, I gained a full inch of vertical room, ALLOWING THE 15″ LAPTOP TO ACTUALLY FIT IN THE DAMN BAG. Yes, it fits snugly, and some may argue that the superfluous seam protects the edge of the computer from hitting the ground, but the very bottom edge seam is actually pretty bulky and does a decent job of protecting as is.

Verdict: With the inclusion of this super deviant hack (and ONLY with this inclusion), UNIQLO wins!!!!!!!!

Epilogue

I’ve been using this bag for 7 months now. It looks kinda cheap and it tends to collect lint, but my shoulders are miraculously like never sore. And, even on a grocery run after stuffing a myriad of pokey-shaped food items in the thing until I can barely close it, it’s always very comfortable on my tender back when biking home (I did this very thing 2 weeks ago at the Farmer’s Market after buying Celine Dion tickets, because I am a white woman in her late 30s). 

Oh, also: it’s black, so yes I am a Creative Professional, thank you for noticing! 

TL;DR: UNIQLO; cheap; comfortable. Send me your products to review! 🔚

Colophon backpacks: ISM, UNIQLO, MUJI; socks: UNIQLO; t-shirt: from a Women Who Code meetup hosted by One Month; sweatpants: Alternative Apparel; laptop: Shmapple; glasses: Steven Alan clearance; stool: Target; plants: IKEA & Home Depot; blankets: Hudson’s Bay, E. Stocking; mirror & couch: IKEA; drawing above mirror: K. Freeman & P. Lyle; posters: Bruce Nauman and a Finnish Design Annual fold-out; calendar: Massimo Vignelli; bike: Miele; weight/capacity control group: thrifting, Peru, Amazon, HAY, more places; suddenly questioning the consistency of whether I’m listing where objects were bought or the brand name of the object itself: something I am going to pretend to resolve at a later date in time; brevity rating for this blog post: ★☆☆☆☆; fan appreciation: I am so sorry if you read this far

[s-n-arly]

A Peek Into the Indie Writer World - Part III: Output Options

Many apologies, this was posted elsewhere weeks ago and I missed getting it up here.

⁂

Once you’ve chosen the indie writer path, you need to decide what products or outputs you want to provide. Common options include print, e‑book, audio book, and online serial. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Looking at your target audience to see how they prefer their media, and deciding what you can afford to spend on your launch are good starting points.

Indie publishing doesn’t have to break the bank, but there are some expenses; these will depend on your skill-set and the products you’re creating. Even if you’re able to do all the technical work yourself, you’ll need to buy an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) for each publication or version of a publication.

Print Run vs Print on Demand

If you decide you want to offer a print edition of your book, there are still a lot of choices to make. Do you want hardcover or paperback? If paperback, do you want mass market (sometimes called pocketbook) or the larger trade size? Do you want regular print and large print options? Are you going to do a print run or go with print on demand (POD)?

Print Run

In traditional publishing, many copies of a book are printed all at one time. This is a print run. The goal is to sell all or most of the print run. If a book’s print run sells out early enough in its publication life, it will go back for a second printing. Indie writers can duplicate this process, working directly with printing companies to produce hardcover or paperback books, paying for the print run and hoping to sell enough to break even or make a profit.

An advantage of a print run is that it’s easier to sell something that people can take with them right then and there. There are also some nice finishing features that a print run can make available that don’t exist in print on demand, such as a variety of bindings and maps on the inside front cover and/or endpaper.

Each printed format of the book (hardcover, paperback, large print, etc) requires its own run. If you’re planning multiple print formats, or if you don’t have investors or ready money to cover the outlay, a print run may not be the best fit for you.

Indie writers who go exclusively with a print run, rely on hand-selling their book at conventions or events, and are directly responsible for all sales. Independent book stores may carry your books on consignment, but it can be very tough to get big chain stores to carry your books outside of their distribution channels.

Print on Demand (POD)

Print on demand is a publishing model where physical books are individually printed as they are ordered. Modern technology has made POD an affordable and common option. If you order a book from an online retailer, and the book is scheduled to take a week or two to arrive, odds are good that it’s POD book. POD printers can provide hardcover and multiple paperback formats.

POD printers often work with both print and e-book outputs. Many have arrangements for distribution to retailers, national and world-wide, which can take some of the burden of selling off the writer’s plate. You must follow designated formatting standards if you want your book to qualify for distribution. This is a detail-focused task that results in a professional product.

Unless you’re buying additional services, POD has a very low cost to the author. You will need to buy a proof of the book, a copy for you to review and make sure it printed properly, before it will be released to the general public. You may need to make changes and order an additional proof to confirm the end product is as expected.

Once you’re happy with the output, you can order your own mini print run of ten or twenty books to hand-sell at readings or events. There’s usually a price break at certain levels, making it worthwhile to buy a larger number, but the per-book price will not be as low as it is with a regular print run.

A disadvantage with POD is that many online retailers have contracts with various printing shops around the country (or even the world), ensuring the book is printed closer to the delivery address. These shops may not have the same quality or standards, and indie writers can’t possibly know how that quality compares. Like a print run, it can be very difficult to get your books carried in brick and mortar stores, but big chain retailers may have them available for online ordering.

E-book

Electronic books, or e-books, are one of the easiest ways to dip your toes into the indie pool. Many e-book providers also offer distribution (sometimes referred to as aggregation). To qualify for wide distribution, your end product will need to meet specific criteria ensuring that it looks professionally produced.

There are many advantages of going the e-book route. It’s relatively simple to set up and produce. Depending on your skill set, and willingness to work through the technical elements, this can cost as little as $25 (the cost for an ISBN). Some e‑book production companies provide a free ISBN; just read the fine print to ensure you aren’t going to regret not being the owner of that number.

E-books become available relatively quickly, often the same day you complete the publishing process. Because of the low cost of production, these can be priced low enough that curious readers may be willing to take a risk on someone they’ve never read or heard of before.

A disadvantage with e-books is the difficulty in standing out from the deluge of e‑books published daily. While libraries are starting to carry e-books, it’s not universal, making this a tough bottleneck to get through. Not all audiences have embraced e‑books, so it’s critical that you know your audience’s preference.

Audio Book

Audio book is an output I’ve researched significantly but haven’t been able to provide. I have friends with visual disabilities who would benefit, and I know several people who enjoy listening to books on the bus or long car rides.

Like a print run, audio book has more up front expenses than other outputs. You can expect to pay your voice actors at least $200 to $400. If you’re doing your own recording, be careful not to over-estimate your ability or your equipment. Theatrical or voice training can definitely help you out, but they don’t guarantee a successful product. The reading quality and audio quality will make or break your audio book.

Online Serial

Online serial publication is another easy place to start, especially if you can stick to a schedule. It doesn’t require an ISBN, but it does require participation in a service that is set up for subscriptions and donations. If you’re tech savvy enough, perhaps you can program this into your own site. Most writers use something like Patreon or Wattpad.

This route is still relatively new in the industry. The advantage is that writers can more directly connect with their audience. Some writers use this to gain a following, posting short stories and teasers for free to draw people in, while providing subscribers regular chapters and higher level content.

Disadvantages can include difficulty in getting enough traffic, the pressure of providing routine content for subscribers, and random changes in terms of service (a problem Patreon has had several times in the last year). Some writers don’t feel this counts as truly publishing, but if you are providing content to readers, it does fit the definition.

⁂

On the surface these options can seem really intimidating. If you’re finding yourself overwhelmed, pick one to focus on at a time. There’s no reason you can’t roll out various editions as you get more comfortable with the formats. Many writers provide only one format, and that’s fine too. Going indie, means you can do what works for you.

⁂

For the first article in this series, check out Part I. Or if you just missed the previous article, check out Part II. For the next article, check out Part IV.

For more articles on writing, check out my Reflections From the Sol section.

[suzettepu76-blog]

Answered: Your Most Burning Questions About web hosting service provider in Delhi

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How To Make More Delhi based web hosting By Doing Less

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[cum-away-with-meee]

Limpeza Energética de Pessoas

Evaluate the home furniture you've got on the property and find a combination of colours and household furniture that fits properly with each other. You ought to have household furniture colors that flatter each and every other, together with the colours around your property. Prevent selecting hues that aren't associated, for the reason that this tends to look like you don't know design.

If you're making conclusions about switching the interior decor within your home, obtain your family associated. Take into account that they're going to need to have to live while using the variations as well. Conclusions which are built ought to be acceptable to anyone to prevent conflict and sick feelings. Your property could be the haven for each member of one's family members, so everybody really should really feel very good with regard to the modifications forward.

When decorating a small space, generally make sure to use flexible furniture. As an illustration, use ottomans in lieu of chairs or sofa. The ottoman will double as both of those seating as well as a table maximizing your small area. Employing items which have twin uses help you make the most of the tiny room.

A great inside design tip is to generally consider the level of sunshine that a area is having. If a place won't have a large number of home windows, you could possibly desire to go together with a lighter shade of paint or wallpaper making sure that the room won't seem like a cave.

Make use of your possess images as artwork. For a more affordable and more own solution to adorn your partitions, use shots that you've taken. Both have prints created and frame them or use 1 in the quite a few photo-to-canvas providers to acquire your photograph manufactured into a gallery canvas. If you're a lot more tech-savvy, you are able to alter your pics in software program to create them appear even more like artwork.

Use mirrors when decorating your own home. Mirrors can be extremely helpful, particularly should you dwell inside a small house. A mirror on one particular or two walls is not just handy for correcting your hair on the go. They might also give the illusion of extra room. 1 strategically placed mirror can perform miracles for opening up a room.

Everyone that's going through an interior-design challenge could be a good idea to integrate mirrors to the place. Mirrors have two big rewards to any room they can be in. First, they offer the looks which the area is larger than it truly is, and next, they mirror light-weight earning your space glimpse brighter.

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Have got a topic in your mind. Is there a particular color scheme you relatively get pleasure from? Does one use a fondness for retro home furnishings? Choosing a theme before you decide to even start your planning section can save you many effort and time. Ensure that you understand what you might be likely for prior to deciding to commence arranging for it.

Any person who's building a room within their house could well be smart to include hold artwork about the partitions. Artwork does a terrific job of constructing your home glance comprehensive. Just be sure to decide on a chunk or two that meshes with the recent decor from the home you're coming up with.

Attempt to incorporate a "warm haven" in a single with the rooms in the residence. That is an important spot for you to get so you can rest following a protracted working day of work or college. Use tranquil colors on this place and try to incorporate a fire within this place.

Decide on shades with the same hue. Any time you do that, regardless of whether the colours appear to be they'd not "match," they can be from the very same shade loved ones. That makes them blend in a way that may be pleasing to your eye. When you get coloration swatches from the retail store, look into the colours from the same posture on each and every card. These are definitely the types with identical hue values.

Seek out modern strategies to increase storage and organization for your household. You should utilize decorative baskets to arrange papers and points that tend to invade every area with the property. It can be hard to take it easy in the household that may be disorderly. A well-organized property will provide you with a way of peace when you unwind following a hard day.

Limpeza Energética Para a Casa

[taskmo]

10 Frequently Asked Questions on Gig Economy Jobs in India

We have been frequently using the word ‘gig’ along with ‘gig economy’ and ‘gig economy jobs in India’ and other similar terminologies with respect to the gig economy. With gig jobs gaining popularity amongst individuals, it’s the right time for us to answer all the frequently asked questions on Gig Economy Jobs in India. Read on to find out, if we have answered your questions!

What is a gig job?

To understand what a gig job is, we must first understand the meaning of the term. The term gig job can be broken down into two distinct terms; gig and job, let’s quickly define it for you;

Job: A job can be defined as a piece of work done for a pre-defined rate. Jobs may be done based on pieces, hours, assignments, tasks, projects, or any other similar options. However, today we are accustomed to thinking that ‘job’ refers to a specific role played by a person in an organisation in a regular manner, with the expectation to return the next day.

Gig: A gig, on the other hand, refers to a job that lasts for a specific period or until the need continues to exist. Gigs do not have a duration, they can either be short-term or long-term in nature. However, all gigs are considered to be jobs, but that’s not the same the other way round!

What is another word for a gig?

There are several words that can be used synonymously with the word gig, a few of them include; tasker, freelancer, independent worker, self-employed, temporarily employed and so many more.

What is a gig worker example?

A gig worker is someone who works for a specified period of time. The gig economy is dynamic in nature and consists of a wide range of jobs across various industries and groups. In order to make things simple, we will categorise them;

Business Process: It includes activities such as merchant onboarding, lead generation, customer service, onboarding partners and much more.

Marketing and Sales: It includes Campus Marketing, BTL Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Offline Activation.

Field Operations: Warehouse Executives, Loader-Unloader, Picker-Packers and On-Ground Workers.

Delivery Services: It includes last-mile delivery, emergency deliveries, bike riders, product delivery.

Retail Execution: It includes a wide range of jobs that are performed in the retail section, namely; Samplers, Merchandisers, In-Store Staff and Sales Executives.

Audits and Diligence: It includes Retails Audits, Background Checks, Merchant Diligence, Survey Collection and much more.

How do you classify gig workers?

There is no PREDEFINED classification of gig workers. It’s hard to believe but that’s just how the gig economy in India operates. Gig workers are present across all industries, which include Accommodation, Business and Technical Services, Delivery Services, Retail Execution, Transportation and Parking, Business Development, Sales and Marketing and so much more.

How do I get a job in the gig economy?

One of the most frequently asked questions is ‘how do I get a job in the gig economy? Well, the answer to that is simple. Download the Taskmo from Google Playstore, select a task near you, get trained by the experts at Taskmo, complete the task and receive your payments in a timely manner. Gigging made easy with Taskmo!

Is a gig worker self-employed?

The answer to this question is relative. A gig worker is entitled to follow the terms and conditions of the respective task. To an extent, yes a gig worker is considered to be self-employed, however, he is guided by a framework that he must follow during the course of the task.

What are the benefits of the Gig Economy?

Not one or two, there are several benefits of having a gig economy job in India. Let me quickly outline, some of the several benefits include;

Flexible Working Hours

Complete Autonomy

Larger Access to Jobs

Higher levels of Independence

Allows you to explore your passion

A great opportunity to carry your side hustle and so much more.

What is the difference between a gig worker and an independent contractor?

We often are quick to assume that a gig worker and independent contractors are one and the same. At times, both these terms are used interchangeably, but there does exist a thin line of difference between a gig worker and an independent contractor. An independent contractor refers to an individual who works for a client or a company without being an employee of the company. A gig worker is similar to an independent contractor, however, a gig worker lies outside the traditional employer-employee and contractor relationship. On the other hand, independent contractors are bound by certain regulations and entitlements whereas gig workers are eligible to minimal benefits with flexibility in timelines.

Which gig jobs pay the best?

The gig economy jobs are diverse in itself and there are several jobs ranging from tech-based ones to jobs that are creative. Some of the jobs include;

Delivery Rider

Ride-Sharing

Onboarding Partners

Customer Service Representatives

Tutor

Event Volunteer

Coaches/Trainers

Direct Sales Representatives

Surveyors/Samplers

Digital Marketers and so much more.

Let’s get straight to the question, which job pays the best? On average, a gig worker makes about $15 to $20 per hour. However, here’s what you must remember, every gig is different from each other. A gig job may last a few hours, weeks or even months in certain cases and the remuneration will depend on such factors.

Do gig workers pay taxes?

When it comes to taxes, a gig worker is considered a self-employed taxpayer only if he is primarily dependent on the gig economy. It simply means that you are liable to pay a set of estimated taxes. You also are eligible to avail certain deductions and benefits under 80C in India.

Is the gig economy good or bad?

The gig economy is on its rise and will soon take over the traditional job economy. Due to the umpteen benefits available in the gig economy, we can see it occupy a major share in the mainstream economy. To find a gig job near you, visit Taskmo website or download the Taskmo App.

[clapcreative]

How Big Commerce Development acts as a Catalyst for E-Commerce Businesses?

Every now and then, industries whether small-scaled or multinational ones have to look for customer-centric services. And that too comes with the price of developing a seamless pathway for customers to connect with you. Taking this further, due to the advent of advanced technologies, people now like to explore products and services online instead of visiting traditional brick and mortar stores. 

This need certainly felt by all the market stakeholders including the retailers and as a result, a plethora of e-commerce websites are live across the globe.  The best part? The businesses do not have to hunt for too many platforms or software to set-up their e-commerce website. Just scroll through some e-commerce website development platforms and choose what suits your preferences and business.

In a survey of 500 B2B organizations, 80% accepted orders and payments through websites proving the growth of e-commerce in B2B.

Moving business online is certainly not an easy task. You must have heard about many e-commerce development platforms such as Volusion, Weebly, Wix, 3dcart, Shopify and others that can be evaluated on the basis of flexibility, scalability, design options and reliability of integrations. For many, BigCommerce is proven to be an ideal choice without any technical obstacles. Know why? It’s said to be effective in every comparison you can do whether you are looking for ease of use, innovative themes, compatibility and cost friendliness with the bonus of omnichannel selling.

Let’s take a brief idea of how well this works!

For those who have less knowledge regarding this platform, BigCommerce is a SaaS (Software as a service) platform, which means you do not have to own this software but can pay on a monthly basis to build an online store. It allows merchants to customize their online shop with a range of customizable templates and no heavy code skills are required. Also, it enables tech-savvy people to tweak the HTML and CSS as per their requirements. However, non-techie ones find it quite difficult to make small tweaks.

Read on to what else makes BigCommerce perhaps the best of all…

Ease of Use

Being a business owner, you want to spend as much time looking after your customers, shipping products, and seeing your profits rising. The reason why there is a difficulty in the design interface of eCommerce platforms that could be split between two areas. One, where you add products, manage discounts and shipping scenes and the other is where you edit your storefront. In that case, ease of use gets really important. To combat this, Big Commerce recommends to set-up the inventory section of your store. Though Big Commerce development platform has some great tutorials and steps to get started. The good news is, Big Commerce has released an exciting feature to make designing your store easier than ever! The new visual merchandising tool is called Store Design, which means you can see the effects of your edits. This new feature makes Big Commerce development much more customizable.

Themes and Templates

There are over 100 paid themes available on the Big Commerce platform. In general, it balances the collection of both free and paid options depending on budget. It offers an array of responsive templates that you can rely on for you to choose the best design of your online store. Prices vary between $145 and $235 based on your business preferences and packages. Moreover, there are more than 10 categories for various industries.

Omni Channel Boost

Big Commerce allows you to boost your sales by integrating your online store with different channels. Big Commerce will simply import your products on each channel that you want to connect and you don’t have to work manually over it. Also, it lets your online store reach and sell across:

Marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, and Google shopping.

Social Media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest.

Physical stores like Squares, Shopkeep and others.

Abandoned Cart Saver

This feature is about sending automated emails to visitors who did not complete their checkout process. It enables the one-time configuration to set a series of emails and send them when needed. Many times, customers leave unpurchased items in the cart and leave the website. Therefore, this feature of BigCommerce helps merchants to deal with it.

There are many other features available in BigCommerce development platform that you can utilize to add value to your online store such as:

SSL security certificate

Unlimited number of products

Payment options

Real-time shipping rates

Option to offer coupons, discounts and gift cards

Add ratings and user reviews

SEO tools

Closing Remarks

To summarize, creating and maintaining e-commerce stores demand reliability, effectiveness and fewer efforts in shopping experiences. BigCommerce does match with your idea of online selling if you are looking for a complete e-commerce platform with advanced marketing and optimization toolset. So, if you are the one owning brick and mortar stores and searching for effective channels to expand your business, the companies providing BigCommerce web designing services can assist you. BigCommerce offers 15-day free trial for test and to build a fully functional website with its trial version.

Original Source: https://www.clapcreative.com/how-big-commerce-development-acts-as-a-catalyst-for-e-commerce-businesses/

[movietvtechgeeks]

Latest story from https://movietvtechgeeks.com/ps4-xbox-one-nintendo-switch-best-2017-black-friday-deals/

PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch: best 2017 Black Friday deals

Nintendo and Microsoft have put out a must have new video game console, so there's plenty to choose from with the PS4 (Slim, Pro and VR addition), the Xbox One S or brand new blazing fast Xbox One X or Nintendo's hot new Nintendo Switch which has made them a true player again. The Xbox One X won't be having any sales, but you can keep an eye right here to see if the price drops through Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Here's our review and why it's a must for every gamer this holiday season. If someone has a video game console on their holiday wish list this year, or you fancy upgrading your own console, Black Friday is your opportunity to get an awesome deal. If you shop around, you can get up to $100 off an Xbox One S, PS4 or PS4 VR. Below is a wide selection of the best Black Friday deals on the hottest video game consoles every gamer wants. You can get all of our 2017 Holiday Gift Guides right here as they will continue to grow and gather speed as the holidays are fast approaching. We’ve broken them up by category this year to make it even easier to find that perfect gift for everyone on your list and that special gift you’ve earned after the year we’ve had! For that gamer in your life, we’ve pulled together our Gamer store so you can find the must have games and game consoles right here. Check out our other Black Friday guides here: Amazon (guide), Target (guide), Walmart (guide), Samsung (guide) Best Buy (guide). Xbox One S 500GB Console The Xbox One S is generally thought of as the default Xbox One these days. A smaller, slimmer, sleeker machine than its predecessor, it has slightly faster processing power, HDR capability and 4K output for Blu-Ray films. The Xbox One S is a great choice if you already own a lot of Xbox games; even some Xbox 360 titles will play on the Xbox One S. The best Black Friday Xbox One S deal comes from the official Xbox store: get the Xbox One S 500GB Console + Free Game and 1-Month Game Pass for $189, saving $60. Other great deals include Target’s Xbox One S 500GB Console + $25 Gift Card for $189.99 (saving $90) and Best Buy Xbox One S 500GB Console for $189.99 (saving $90). PS4 1TB Console If you prefer Sony to Microsoft, you can get great deals on the PS4 1TB console this Black Friday. Basically, this model is the same as the PS4 Slim, but with double the built-in storage: 1TB instead of 500GB. If you’re new to video gaming, you might be swayed by the PS4’s larger games library and exclusive titles: it has over 1,600 titles (including 500 exclusives or console exclusives) compared to the Xbox One’s 1,300 titles (including 150 exclusives or console exclusives). It’s predicted that the PS4 1TB will sell out quickly on Black Friday, so be prepared to move fast. You’ll find the best deals at BJ’s ($189.99), Costco ($189.99), Kohl’s ($199.99, includes $60 Kohl’s Cash), Target ($199.99), Amazon ($199.99) eBay (189.99) and BestBuy ($199.99). PS4 VR There’s little to choose between the Xbox One S and the PS4 1TB — it really does come down to personal preference. But if you’re a serious gamer and want a completely immersive, virtual reality game experience, check out the incredible Black Friday deals on the PS4 VR. In particular, the PlayStation 4 GranTurismo Sport VR Bundle is believed to be the cheapest Playstation VR bundle of all time. Grab it while you can for $299 (saving $100) at Walmart. It will also be reduced to $299.99 at BestBuy and Newegg. Considering the bundle was only released this month, the $100 saving is definitely something to get excited about. Nintendo Switch No roundup of video game consoles is complete without mentioning the Nintendo Switch. For families and younger gamers, this console (the replacement for the Wii U) is considered to be one of the best. It works both as a stationary console that plugs into the TV and a portable gaming device with two built-in controllers and a touchscreen and has parental controls to help kids regulate their use. It also has way more child-friendly and multiplayer games than the Xbox and the PlayStation. No Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals have been announced yet — and there might not be any, due to ongoing issues supply issues. But you should still look out for retailers adding games into Switch bundles to encourage you to buy. Currently pricing is at $299, but don’t be surprised to see some surprise deals for Black Friday into Cyber Monday on Amazon. Retailers like Target, Gamestop, and Best Buy will actually have the system in stock during Black Friday weekend (but probably not for long).

Nintendo 3DS and 2DS

Nintendo is releasing a special edition of its 2DS hardware for Black Friday. The Link Edition Nintendo 2DS comes in “Link green” and includes a preinstalled digital copy of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. The system costs $79.99 and will be available at the following retailers starting Nov. 23. Best Buy GameStop Target Nintendo Super NES Classic Edition And if you’re looking for Nintendo’s other console, the Super NES Classic Edition, well, if you can find one of those in stock at retail, consider that a pretty good deal too. Amazon still has a good stock of them here that might last through Cyber Monday. Several people have squirreled away a lot of these units over on eBay too so as of now, there are plenty to be had. Target currently has plenty on hand. GameStop is sold out but expecting a large shipment in for the holiday weekend. Best Buy is also expecting a shipment this weekend.

GAMES

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo has a special release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild hitting on Black Friday, giving Switch owners a bit more bang for their buck. The “Explorer’s Edition” of Breath of the Wild includes the Switch version of the game, a 100-page explorer’s guide and a two-sided map for $59.99. Walmart will have the Explorer’s Edition for $49, according to its Black Friday ad. Here are some of the other Black Friday deals on Switch software: 1-2-Switch - $24.99 @ Best Buy, $29.99 @ Amazon (regularly $59.99) Batman: The Telltale Series - $19.99 @ GameStop $17.45 @ Amazon (reg. $39.99) Disgaea 5 Complete - $19.99 @ Best Buy, $39.99 @ Amazon (reg. $49.99) Dragonball Xenoverse 2 - $19.99 @ Amazon @ Best Buy / Walmart, $24.99 @ GameStop (reg. $49.99) FIFA 18 - $29.99 @ Best Buy / Amazon / GameStop (reg. $59.99) Has-Been Heroes - $10 @ GameStop (reg. $19.99) @ Amazon Just Dance 2018 - $39.99 @ GameStop @ Best Buy (reg. $59.99) $29.44 @ Amazon The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Explorer’s Edition - $49 @ Walmart (reg. $59.99) @ Amazon @ GameStop The Lego Ninjago Movie - $29.99 @ Game Stop (reg. $59.99) $34.99 @ Amazon Lego Worlds - $15 @ Target, $19.99 @ Best Buy $28.99 @ Amazon (reg. $39.99) Mario + Rabbids Battle Kingdom - $29 @ Amazon (reg. $59.99) Minecraft Story Mode - $14.99 @ Best Buy (reg. $39.99) $28.61 @ Amazon NBA 2K18 - $29 @ Target (reg. $59.99) $46.50 @ Amazon Rayman Legends Definitive Edition - $19.99 @ Best Buy / GameStop / Amazon (reg. $39.99) Sonic Forces - $24.99 @ Best Buy, $29.99 @ GameStop / Target (reg. $39.99) @ Amazon Super Bomberman R - $24.99 @ Best Buy, $29.99 @ GameStop / Toys R Us (reg. $49.99) @ Amazon @ Target  

Nintendo 3DS/2DS

Of course, there are plenty of great deals for those games on the go too! Here’s a slew of deals on 3DS games. Animal Crossing: New Leaf - $14.99 @ Best Buy (reg. $19.99) @ GameStop @ Amazon @ Target Fire Emblem Echoes - $29.99 @ Best Buy (reg. $39.99) $24.99 @ GameStop @ Amazon Kirby Planet Robobot - $24.99 @ Target (reg. $39.99) @ Amazon Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon - $14.99 @ Best Buy (reg. $19.99) @ Amazon Mario Kart 7 - $19.99 @ Best Buy (reg. $29.99) @ Amazon @ GameStop Mario Party Star Rush - $26.68 @ Amazon (reg. $39.99) @ Target Mario Sports Superstars - $29 @ Best Buy (reg. $39.99) @ Amazon New Super Mario Bros. 2 - $19.99 @ Best Buy (reg. $29.99) @ Amazon Pokémon Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby - $19.99 @ Best Buy, $24.99 @ Target (reg. $39.99) @ Amazon Pokémon Sun/Moon - $29 @ GameStop (reg. $39.99) @ Best Buy @ Amazon Poochy and Yoshi’s Woolly World - $24.99 @ Target, $29.99 @ Amazon (reg. $39.99) Puyo Puyo Tetris - $29.99 @ Best Buy $16.99 @ Amazon (reg. $39.99) Super Mario Maker 3DS - $24.99 @ Target, $29 @ Amazon (reg. $39.99) Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS - $24.99 @ Target, $29 @ Amazon $9.99 @ GameStop  (reg. $39.99) Wii The Wii came out in 2006, but this year saw the release of Just Dance 2018 for Nintendo’s old, but bestselling console. Just Dance 2018 will be just $19 at Best Buy (and $25 at Target) this Black Friday. Of course, Amazon will have a deal on this on through Cyber Monday. Make sure to bookmark this page as the prices will be changing over on Black Friday so you’ll have everything in one spot to do some fast price checking. You can find a selection of our Black Friday 2017 coverage below, and if you want to be notified by breaking deals as they happen, follow us on Twitter or Facebook so you know right as they happen or just keep coming back here to our Black Friday, Cyber Monday section. Check Out Our 2017 Holiday Gift Guides: [abcf-grid-gallery-custom-links id="50652"]

Movie TV Tech Geeks News

[ncmagroup]

Written by Aja Frost

Salespeople shouldn’t send “just checking in” emails for one very simple reason: They don’t work. Buyers feel like the rep is virtually poking them, making them reluctant to answer. Not only do “checking in” messages rarely garner responses, but they can also even turn prospects against their senders.

But reps still need a way to get in touch with buyers who’ve gone dark. Enter these 23 email templates.

These “just checking in” alternatives simultaneously add value to the prospect while putting the salesperson back on her radar. She’ll want to restart the sales conversation — so it’s a win-win.

If they never responded:

1) Send them a short piece of actionable advice.

Template:

Hi [Prospect]

You likely deal with [business pain], so I thought I’d share a quick tip many of my clients have found helpful: [1-2 sentence actionable piece of advice].

I have a few more ideas around [improving X]. Let me know if you’re interested in hearing them.

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Sofra,

You likely deal with customer no-shows, so I thought I’d share a quick tip many of my clients have found helpful: Ask for credit cards to hold reservations. This helped Coi halve their no-show rate.

I have a few more ideas around mitigating canceled tables. Let me know if you’re interested in hearing them.

Best,

Jamie

2) Send over a longer how-to guide and offer to follow up in person if they want.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

Do you [deal with X/want to improve Y]? Here’s an ebook about [dealing with X/improving Y].

There’s a lot of invaluable advice in there — you might find [specific tip or section] especially helpful. If you’d like to discuss these pointers or anything else around [topic], let’s set up a call.

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Jordan,

Would you like to your new salespeople to get off-ramp faster? Here’s an ebook about shortening ramp time.

There’s a lot of invaluable advice in here — check out page 30 for an in-depth training cadence. If you’d like to discuss these pointers or anything else around sales hiring and training, let’s set up a call.

Best,

Cara

3) Point out a weakness in their business that should be fixed.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

[Company] sounds like it’s doing well — just stumbled across this quote on [Glassdoor/Yelp/Angie’s List/other third-party review sites) from one of your [employees/customers]:

[1-2 sentence quote].

[Company] would be even stronger if you [fixed X]. Would you like to follow up about this on a call?

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Oleana,

Trusthealth sounds like it’s doing well — just stumbled across this quote on Glassdoor from one of your employees: “This is the best, most supportive office I’ve ever experienced.”

Your company might be even stronger if you offered employee mentorship programs, which typically increase individual retention by 23%. Would you like to follow up about this on a call?

Best,

Kendall

4) Share an article relevant to their industry or profession.

Template:

Hey [prospect],

Since you work in [X role or industry], you might be interested in this article about [X role or industry]. The author makes an interesting point about [detail of article].

Have you considered any changes related to [topic of article]?

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hey Colum,

Since you work in home security, you might be interested in this New York Times article about new “smart security” systems. The author makes an interesting point about property owners’ increasing vulnerability to hackers.

Has your firm considered any changes related to hacking?

Best,

Claire

5) Respond to a social message, then follow up with more resources.

Template:

Hey [prospect],

Great post on [social network] about [topic]. Your comment about X was particularly astute — [additional comment].

Here are a couple resources about [topic] you might find interesting:

Link 1

Link 2

[Connection between resources and value salesperson can offer].

Let me know what you think,

[Your name]

Example:

Hey Annette,

Great post on LinkedIn about banking software. Your comment about fraud detection was particularly astute.

Here are a couple resources about online financial programs you might find interesting:

Link 1

Link 2

They cover several unique strategies for preventing cybercrime.

Let me know what you think,

Mark

6) Answer one of their questions on an online forum, then follow up with more resources.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

Great [social network] question about X. [1-2 sentence answer]. (Make sure you link to the post, especially if it’s more than one day old.)

Here are a couple resources about X that will also help:

Link 1

Link 2

Let me know if you’d like to discuss this on a call,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Tim,

Great Twitter question about finding freelancers. Many of the startups I work with hire college students to freelance for them — the students get to experience, and the companies get good content at an affordable rate.

Here are a couple other sites you might find useful:

Upwork (a freelance marketplace)

Inbound.org (an online community with many active freelancers)

Let me know if you’d like to discuss this or get a few more suggestions on a call.

Sydney

7) Reference a relevant blog post they just published.

Template:

Hey [prospect],

Excellent post on [topic]. Your [comment/suggestion/insight] on X stood out for [reason].

Have you considered writing about Y as a follow-up post?

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hey Dave,

Excellent post on the state’s real estate market. Your argument that restaurants are driving the local retail landscape was particularly persuasive — most investors aren’t looking carefully enough at those stats.

Have you considered writing about the generational shift into cities as a follow-up post?

Best,

Sarek

8) Send them a blog post your company has just published.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

You [previously downloaded or read X piece of content/likely deal with Y problem/belong to Z industry], so you might get value from this blog post my company just published: [title].

If you’re in a rush and can’t read it all, [tip, section X] seems like it’d be particularly useful for [company].

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Amanda,

You previously downloaded our guide to designing an intranet so you might get value from this blog post my company just published containing interviews with the winners of Nielsen’s 10 Best Intranets of 2016 awards.

If you’re in a rush and can’t read it all, example #4 seems like it’d be particularly useful for Cloudius, since it features another energy firm.

Best,

Julian

9) Recommend an event in their area.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

What are you doing on [date]? Noticed [event] will be taking place in your area — it seems like a great fit for you because [value of event].

Here’s the link to the website if you want to check it out: [link].

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Jon,

What are you doing on October 3? Noticed there’s an IT professionals meet up on that day in Framingham — it seems like a great opportunity to network and potentially recruit more folks for Kerchief.

Here’s the link to the website if you want to check it out: [link].

Best,

Harold

10) Invite them to an upcoming webinar or educational event your company is hosting.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

Last time we spoke, you mentioned you’re currently focused on [improving X/solving Y/refining Z]. Would you like to attend the [webinar/event] that [rep’s company] is hosting? The speakers, [name] and [name], will be delving into [topic 1 and topic 2].

It’s taking place on [date] — here’s the link to sign up.

I hope to see you there.

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi June,

Last time we spoke, you mentioned you’re currently focused on incorporating iPads into the classroom. Would you like to attend the webinar that CurrentFront is hosting? The speakers, Hakan Staff from Harvard University and Sheila Thomas from Yale University, will be delving into tech-based learning models.

It’s taking place on January 14 — here’s the link to sign up.

I hope to see you there.

Best,

Yusef

11) Send them a book, podcast, newsletter, or publication recommendation.

Template:

Hey [prospect],

Judging by your [LinkedIn/Twitter/other social networks] account, you’ve got a great eye for industry content. The [article/ebook/podcast] you posted about X was especially useful.

Have you heard of [related publication/book/newsletter/podcast]? If you liked X, you’ll probably enjoy Y. I recommend starting with [issue/chapter/edition/episode] Z: [linked].

Let me know what you think,

[Your name]

Example:

Hey Terry,

Judging by your LinkedIn account, you’ve got a great eye for industry content. The podcast you posted about the rise of consumer loyalty programs was especially useful.

Have you heard of the Blue Matter podcast? If you like Shop It To Me, you’ll probably enjoy Blue Matter. I recommend starting with the episode on in-store promotions.

Let me know what you think,

Darcy

12) Bring up a common challenge your buyers face and ask if they’re experiencing it.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

The clients I work with often face [business challenge]. Has [company] experienced anything similar?

If so, I have several ideas that might help — like [tip #1]. If you’d like to hear more, I’m free for a call on [date and time] or [date or time].

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Hayle,

The clients I work with are often struggling to find creative, low-cost ways of engaging with their local communities. Has Shake Advertising experienced anything similar?

If so, I have several ideas that might help — like organizing an employee volunteer program. If you’d like to hear more, I’m free for a call on Thursday at 4 p.m. or Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Best,

Claire

13) Bump your email to the top of their inbox using the “buried email” technique.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

Just wanted to follow up in case this email got buried.

Thanks,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Rania,

Just want to follow up in case this email got buried.

Thanks,

Jeff

14) Ask if they’re still interested in achieving X goal, then provide a suggestion for how to get there.

Template:

Hey [prospect],

Are you still interested in achieving X goal? [Customer] saw [results] by trying [suggestion]. Might be worth a try for [prospect’s company].

If you’d like to know exactly how [customer] did it, we can set up a call on [date and time] or [date and time].

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hey Susan,

Are you still interested in decreasing employee absenteeism? Full Trade raised team-wide attendance by 5% in three months by tying performance pay to attendance. Might be worth a try for Beeline.

If you’d like to know the specifics of Full Trade’s program, we can set up a call on Tuesday at 11 a.m. or Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Best,

Gary

15) Call attention to something their competitor is doing well and ask how they plan to address it.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

I saw that [competitor] has been doing well in [X area] lately. Do you have any plans in place for addressing it?

I have some ideas — if you want to hear them, let’s schedule a call.

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Sean,

Gladup has been aggressively hiring new developers. The last time we spoke, you mentioned that you’re also trying to grow your team — do you have any plans in place for remaining competitive in the Chicago area?

I have some ideas — if you want to hear them, let’s schedule a call.

Best,

Sarah

16) Send a breakup email to close the loop.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

I haven’t heard back from you, so you must be busy or no longer interested in [achieving X]. Mind if I close your file?

Thanks,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Liam,

I haven’t heard back from you, so you must be busy or no longer interested in expanding to the San Jose area. Mind if I close your file?

Thanks,

Kevin

If a trigger event has occurred:

1) Congratulate a potential decision-maker on a promotion.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

Congratulations on your promotion to [role]. You’ve done some impressive things in your tenure at [company] — including [achievement 1] and [achievement 2] — so it’s well-deserved.

Have you put any thought into how you’ll achieve [business goal]? I have a few suggestions.

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Emily,

Congratulations on your promotion to editor-in-chief. You’ve done some impressive things in your tenure at Fantasia — including raising print circulation and rolling out a virtual reality program — so it’s well-deserved.

Have you put any thought into how you’ll find VR specialists? I have a few suggestions.

Best,

Andy

2) Reach out to a decision-maker after a blocker leaves the company.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

In [month, year], we talked about your difficulties with [pain point], and how [offering] could help [achieve specific goal] over [specific timeframe].

I know there’s been a few changes at [prospect’s company] since then — are you interested in doubling down on [goal] again?

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Jody,

In February, we talked about your difficulties with inefficient driver routes, and how the MPH software could help reduce team mileage by 30% and improve worker retention by 5% in 6 months.

I know there’s been a few changes at Jantam since then — are you interested in doubling down on this efficiency again?

Best,

Todd

3) Reach out to a new C-level executive.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

Congratulations on your new role at [new company]. At your old company, you made [X innovative move] that really helped [Y metric]. When I previously spoke with someone at your company, they were doing things [X way] — how are you thinking about this strategy?

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Sheryl,

Congratulations on your new role at Waypointer. At your old company, you completely revamped the mid-market strategy — doubling your revenue from that channel. When I previously spoke with someone at your company, they were focusing on enterprise deals. How are you thinking about Beanery’s mid-market approach going forward?

Best,

Jose

4) Congratulate them on a funding round.

Template:

Hey [prospect],

Since the last time [we talked, I reached out], you’ve closed a/an $X round of funding. Congratulations! This is probably one of the busiest periods of your company’s life — have you thought about how you’ll [accomplish X goal]?

If that’s on your agenda, let’s set up a quick call. I have a few ideas that may help.

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hey Vincent,

Since the last time I reached out, you’ve closed a $5M round of funding. Congratulations! This is probably one of the busiest periods of your company’s life — have you thought about how you’ll scale your onboarding process?

If that’s on your agenda, let’s set up a quick call. I have a few ideas that may help.

Best,

Simon

5) Ask whether newly created positions relevant to your product reflect new company initiatives.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

Congratulations on the creation of [role related to your product]. Usually, this means [business goal] is now a priority.

I thought you might be interested in finding out how we helped [similar company] get going quickly in their new direction – without any of the typical glitches.

If you’d like to learn more, let’s set up a quick call. How does [date and time] look on your calendar?

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Rafael,

Congratulations on the creation of a branded content role. Usually, this means securing corporate partnerships is now a priority.

I thought you might be interested in finding out how we helped May Media establish guidelines and price points while generating interest with their target partners.

If you’d like to learn more, let’s set up a quick call. How does July 30th at 2:30 p.m. look on your calendar?

Best,

Gina

If you lost the deal:

1) Check how things are going a month after implementing a competitor’s product.

Template:

Hey [prospect],

It’s been a month since you signed on with [competitor]. How are things going?

Best,

[Your name]

Example:

Hey Shawn,

It’s been a month since you signed on with Toejam. How are things going?

Best,

Huck

2) Check how things are going as their contract with a competitor is winding down.

Template:

Hi [prospect],

Last time we chatted, you mentioned your contract with [competitor] is winding down in [month]. How’s everything going with [product]?

Also, I came across a [blog post/ebook/guide] on [topic] you might find helpful: [link].

Looking forward to hearing from you,

[Your name]

Example:

Hi Ethan,

Last time we chatted, you mentioned your contract with Banyan is winding down in June. How’s everything going with their platform?

Also, I came across a post on Google Chrome keyboard shortcuts your team might like — know you guys are big Chrome fans [link].

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Shruthi

Salespeople often default to the standard “touching base” message because they’re in a rush. With these follow-up templates, writing a thoughtful, personalized, helpful email takes mere minutes — with the potentially enormous payoff.

    Go to our website:   www.ncmalliance.com

  23 Follow-Up Sales Email Templates to Send Instead of “Just Checking In” Written by Aja Frost Salespeople shouldn’t send “just checking in” emails for one very simple reason: They don’t work.

[worldwidevoltage]

Region-Free Blu-Ray Player

In the age of digital media, physical media still persists. There are several reasons behind this trend. You can take the example of a Region-Free Blu-Ray Player that gives you total control and freedom.

Oppo, a renowned Chinese brand known for its highly advanced Blu-ray players that accentuated on audio/visual fidelity over all other features, was hailed as the undisputed king of the market in years past. The unprecedented rise in their smartphone sales, ultimately led Oppo to step out of the Blu-ray player market in order to concentrate on its smartphone section. This left a big shoe to fill. And, Pioneer became the go to brand for tech savvy people!

The market is full of good Blu-Ray Players worth buying, but what makes Pioneer different is its user-friendly tech & innovative features. Pioneer offers a fantastic range of Blu-ray player for those want the best in audio and video experience. At the same time, big names in the industry still preferred to continue with pushing the streaming and other auxiliary services. Then Oppo and now the Pioneer is coming up with those kind of technologies that offer the best in class audiovisual interfaces in the current market.

State-of-The-Art Audio/Visual Components:

Pioneer went out with all heart, designing some of the truly one-of-a-kind devices that are a class apart from the contemporaries. From design to concept, every single aspect of these devices has been taken care, keeping the best in mind, with an ultimate goal to offer incredible audio and video. And, the best thing is it has successfully made it, by bringing some of the ingenious technologies on board.

And, you cannot talk about Pioneer Elite UDP-LX500's exclusive features without acknowledging it DAC technology. DACs are the devices that’s responsible for converting signals; from digital to analog. These are standard fare for audiophiles, but might be a bit confusing for those on the fringes of the hobby. Digital audio, what one usually gets to hear from Blu-ray players or computers, is by default 'lossy'. It comes out with a lower bit-rate, lacking of details, and dynamic factors that make the music more intense. By converting digital audio to analog, DACs provide sound waves that are comparatively much smoother and higher quality audio. The UDP-LX500's DAC is arguably the only difference that makes it very much akin to those by Oppo.

Development:

Pioneer's UDP-LX500 is powered by "Zero Signal Terminal" technology, a proprietary technology that works as a coordinator between AV receiver and the ground level. And, the result is a much improved signal strength, reduced interference, and crystal clear audio and video.

The unique thing about Pioneer’s Elite line is its method of construction. The company came up with a 1.6mm chassis which is reinforced by a 3mm steel plate to maintain durability and prevent playback vibration. Together, they offer a handsome package that you won’t find in any contemporary Blu-ray players. It has also split its internal components into three different "blocks". The respective blocks divide the power supply, drive and analogue audio components, & digital processor. The benefit is reduced magnetic and electrical interference between the components, ultimately resulting in superb quality output. To further reduce the digital noise, it has also split the internal circuit board into six distinct layers.

Region-Free:

Adding to the features of the region-free Blu-ray player, they are just amazing. They allow users to use it with any voltage, on any TV in the world. It will read Blu-ray discs and DVDs from all around the globe. It’s an ideal choice for those, who have moved overseas or just love to watch foreign language films. The worldwide voltage feature enables your device function smoothly in North America, Africa, Asia, or Europe without the need for voltage conversion. Just press the shift button between 120V & 220V & it will take care of the rest. It comes with internal Pal/NTSC conversion feature that enables easy compatibility with virtually any TV. If you ask us, then this the device you have been looking for & is loaded with everything you could have asked for in a modern day Region-Free Blu-Ray Player.

Features:

Much like Oppo, Pioneer also follows the same pattern of removing video streaming services from this device. Why so? This could lead to a number of electronic interference & end up taking unnecessary space that could be used for extra hardware components that can help improve A/V output. Well, you can still play the music, using a USB device. Other features include:

Amazing Sound Quality; Built for Audio Lovers

Top-Tier 4K UHD Blu-ray Player

Region A, B, C Blu-ray and Region-Free DVD

Ultra HD Blu-ray Playback

Innovative 3-Block Internal Layout

Zero Signal Terminal for Less Interference

Durable Double-Layered Chassis

High Quality Analog Output Options

HDR10 and SDR/HDR Preset Modes

Ultra-Quiet and Sturdy Blu-ray Disc Drive

This region-free Blu-ray Player model is not available in general retail stores. You can get it from worldwidevoltage.com store, ready to play region A, B, and C Blu-ray discs. We guarantee to beat any advertised price by 2% less price.

For more info, please contact: 1847-290-1718 or E-mail: info@WorldWideVoltage.com

[joescanlan-blog]

Niketown, USA: Ten years of Air Jordans

First published in frieze (Jan./Feb., 1994): 11

Remember Neo-Geo? Haim Steinbach’s shelf units, Jeff Koons’ basketballs, Ashley Bickerton’s tech fetishes? Remember Hal Foster and how the “Damaged Goods” show claimed to confuse and challenge the boundaries separating high art from mass production, museum installation from commodity display? Now, a decade later, Neo-Geo’s retrenchment to high art systems and values is taken as evidence of the movement’s conceptual skid, greased, perhaps, by the trackless art market and the work’s own accelerated shelf life. I would argue that Neo-Geo did not fail so much as it was out-hustled, out-innovated and outclassed by the arena it claimed to have entered—the real world of consumer product innovation, design, marketing and display.

A case in point is the ten-year retrospective of Air Jordan basketball shoes in Niketown, a five-story museum and retail store that was Chicago’s most visited institution last year. Why run all over town to the Shedd aquarium, the Art Institute, or the museums of science and natural history when Niketown offers cultural artifacts, innovative technology, and life fish? Better still, after learning all about Bo Jackson’s shoes or Andre Agassi’s shorts, you can walk into the next room and buy them; not postcards, not replicas, but the things themselves.

NIKE Inc.’s masterpiece is the Air Jordan line of basketball shoes, products that have maintained an indifference to social reality that almost qualifies them as art. They were the first basketball shoes to retail for more than $100; the first to have a role in a major motion picture (Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing); and the first that people literally killed for. In Niketown a special room is dedicated to Michael ‘Air’ Jordan and these shoes. A Memphis-style display case holds ten Plexiglas sarcophagi, each containing an autographed pair of Air Jordans actually worn by the man himself. A basketball goal hangs at regulation height from the ceiling, and the floor is an actual hardwood basketball court replica. A 28’ photomural of Jordan in full regalia looms above. The sound of cheering fans cycles on and off every ten minutes—long enough for a sales clerk to ask if I need any help. (I’m considering spending $130 on a pair of Air Jordan 10s—not to wear, to store away. NIKE has informed me that early model Air Jordans are going for $1,200 in Japan.) The crowd roars. The cash register rings. Another artifact sold.

Tinker Hatfield has designed Air Jordan since their inception in 1985, but Jordan has been involved from the beginning. As the story goes, it was Jordan and his agent who pitched the concept of the shoe to NIKE. Meeting regularly with Hatfield, NIKE’s public relations staff, and product engineers, Jordan gives performance feedback and makes aesthetic suggestions. (Could it have been the player’s influence that led to the dropping of the NIKE logo from the shoe, in favor of the AJ mark alone?)

Of all the shoes, AJ 5 and 6 are the ultimate combinations of Hatfield innovation and Jordan intellect. Although AJ 5 returned to the idea of structurally compartmentalizing the upper, this regression is counteracted by an ostentatious display of synthetic materials, aerospace lacing, and a “see-through” heel—a running shoe innovation that is the benchmark of NIKE technology. The idea of being able to see through a shoe’s most critical performance area exalts the shoe’s technology at the same time as revealing its signature ingredient: air. The see-through sole fused the key innovation, material, functional pun: we already knew who Air was, now we could see what air did. AJ 6 took this levity and playfully grounded it in brawny, earth-bound muscle.

The AJ 6 profile is reminiscent of early Jaguars and Porsches in that all its shapes are inverted and downward flowing, more about using gravity and traction than escaping from them. The look of speed has been sacrificed for the feel of power; surface flash has been discarded like a T-shirt from the Incredible Hulk. Strangest of all is a low-slung heel and ankle panel that looks like an inverted pigeon wing, and a heavy looking all black sole with roadster flames spurting backwards from its mid-section.

By June of 1993 Michael Jordan had won two Olympic gold medals, three Most Valuable Player awards, seven consecutive league scoring titles, two Defensive Player of the Year awards and nine consecutive All-Star game appearances. In addition, his team, the Chicago Bulls, had won three consecutive world championships. But then came ‘the troubled shoe,’ Air Jordan 9. Rendered in black and grey Nu-Buck with a sickly, multi-colored tongue, it looks more like a hiking boot than a basketball shoe. The breathing holes in the uppers are scarce compared to previous models, and the see-through sole has been sealed up, entombed. The shoe looks tough, moody, impenetrable, and is the only model to have a polypropylene finger loop stitched to the heel for greater ease in pulling them on. Jordan never had to worry about pulling them on, though, as he retired from professional basketball just one week before the scheduled start of the season.

It’s conceivable that being the most influential figure for NIKE’s deleterious sociology played a part in Jordan’s decision to retire. NIKE Inc. has been rightly criticized for baiting a generation of predominantly Black youths with the proposition that basketball is a way out of the inner city, but in the end Michael Jordan was the casualty of the socio-economic crossfire. While his Gatorade endorsements encouraged kids to “Be Like Mike,” his NIKE ads averred that “It’s Gotta Be The Shoes,” which adds up to: be like Mike, but, Mike’s the way he is because of the shoes he wears, so…that’ll be $100, please. Every time he made an incredible basket, he sold another 1,000 pairs of shoes. At some point, perhaps, Jordan’s athletic skill and commercial manipulation became too indistinguishable, incompatible, or just plain out of control.

Visit Joe Scanlan’s website to see all of his archived works.