nieman marcus http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for nieman marcus Copyright 2008 Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:07:19 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/nieman+marcus Fashion Design School Degrees http://www.artwoo.com/article/fashion-design-school-degrees http://www.artwoo.com/article/fashion-design-school-degrees#comments Sat, 09 Sep 2006 12:27:03 +0000 fashion merchandisingfashion design schoolfashion buyersfashion buyermanagement fashionlatest fashionnieman marcus http://www.artwoo.com/article/fashion-design-school-degrees
s offer courses in fashion and retail management, and fashion marketing.

If you can't design fashion but have an eye for putting the look together and knowing intuitively what the next andquot;hotandquot; look will be, perhaps you'd want to look into a fashion design school with an eye towards becoming a fashion purchasing manager in the retail sector.

Every big department store such as and Saks has s. Everything that is in a department store that is offered for sale was picked out by a buyer.

These fashion purchasing managers or fashion buyers choose and buy the products that are sold in retail stores. Imagine for a moment attending the shows in the US and Europe. Seeing first hand the latest fashion offerings of the big name couture design houses such as Lauren, Dior, Gaultier, or the ready-to-wear collections of Balenciaga and Herrera.

Don't think for one minute that the life of a fashion buyer or fashion purchasing agent is all glitz and glamour and hobnobbing. A fashion buyer must have a solid education and expertise in sales and store management.

Fashion buyers are usually graduates of a fashion design school and are hand selected by stores such as JC Penny to enter their training programs. They need a bachelor's degree in marketing and merchandising. Some stores require that a buyer hold an MBA.

There is a hierarchy that is followed in fashion buying. Generally stores will hire new employees as junior buyers to help associate buyers. A fashion buyer usually starts out responsible for one or two different fashion brands. It may take years of experience before associate buyers become senior fashion buyers.

Fashion Buyers must be able to develop strong working relationships with manufacturers reps. They must be able to negotiate prices and be able to communicate with a wide variety of people. Strong work ethic and a positive attitude are also required. To learn more about Fashion Design Schools please visit http://www.schoolguideusa.com/fashion-design-schools.html ]]> NCLB Program Should Take Its Cue From Dallas Schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/nclb-program-should-take-its-cue-from-dallas-schools http://www.artwoo.com/article/nclb-program-should-take-its-cue-from-dallas-schools#comments Sun, 30 Jul 2006 06:27:10 +0000 nclb actdallas schoolsbudgetdemographicsperformancestatetest children http://www.artwoo.com/article/nclb-program-should-take-its-cue-from-dallas-schools States. For nearly 20 years, our nation has worked to improve our schools and student achievement levels. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act was to be the answer to this dilemma by holding all schools accountable for student using high-stakes testing.

The error in thinking is the belief that the NCLB test ratings are fair and accurate. The system does not factor out the disadvantages and/or advantages of wealth and , creating an inequity in the rating of schools. Low-income schools must provide programs, such as preschool, tutoring, remedial classes, and bilingual services, to their students, as well as the cost of more administration required by the state and federal grants that make up the largest percentage of their . Wealthier schools that primarily depend upon local funding (generally from property taxes) for their budget have few government constraints, few low-income students requiring special programs, and flexibility in how their budget is used. This means wealthier schools can provide more educational opportunities and enhancements (i.e. access to technology, fine arts and music, extracurricular activities, teacher professional training and improvements, and teacher administrative support) that impoverished schools cannot afford.

The have developed their own rating system that factors out these disadvantages/advantages, putting all Dallas schools on an even playing field. Available funding, government requirements, the educational level of students entering kindergarten, and the demographics of the community are all factored out of the Dallas schools test rating metric.

Under NCLB, all schools across the nation must in reading and mathematics annually between third and eighth grades. The state, using NCLB mandated measures for school performance, calculates the percentage of various student populations that annually meet or exceed the state's academic standards. Otherwise, they must measure the progress of student "groups" towards a universal fixed point.

Dallas schools use a "value added" school rating system that provides more accurate information, measuring individual student progress from a relative starting point. They then compare the scores with the same student's scores from the previous year. Dallas schools score higher if students on average score higher than predicted by the previous year's test scores and if the schools' overall performance is better than that of other Dallas schools within the same demographics. If Dallas schools perform lower than predicted, they earn a low rating.

Herbert Marcus Elementary, part of the Dallas schools system, is the ideal candidate for the NCLB program. It is located in the inner city of Dallas, the building and grounds are run down, classes are overcrowded, and it is positioned on the edge of a grimy industrial zone. With 1,140 students, almost all are from low-income families and two-thirds speak English as a second language. Even the parents average a seventh-grade education.

Under Principal Conce Rodriguez, the school has done everything right in recent years -- students wear uniforms, teachers submit weekly progress reports on every student in every subject, an expanded preschool program, teacher attendance incentives, and a large tutoring project, just to name a few. A community liaison, hired by Rodriguez, has increased the PTA membership to 700 (the largest in Dallas schools) and typically 50 parent volunteers daily at the school. Student attendance is at 97 percent, one of the highest in the Dallas schools system.

Under the Dallas schools rating system, Marcus placed 19th out of 206 Dallas schools, a significant accomplishment with such difficult demographics. Under the NCLB mandated rating system, Marcus placed 76th as only "acceptable", one step away from being rated as failing. Needless to say, the Marcus educators, students and parents are none too pleased with the NCLB rating system. Some teachers have left Marcus from sheer frustration with the NCLB system and gone to wealthier Dallas schools, where they believe their accomplishments will meet with some recognition. A terrible loss to Marcus or any impoverished school, where quality teachers are scarce.

Other Dallas schools are being similarly penalized by the NCLB rating system. Dallas schools that ranked 2nd, 5th, 8th and 16th under the Dallas schools rating system were ranked 94th, 77th, 83rd and 107th, respectively, under NCLB. Additionally, the school that placed third under the NCLB rating system in the Dallas schools ranked 25th under the Dallas schools rating system. This shows the inequity of the NCLB rating system.

Since shortly after its passage, the NCLB has been under heavy attack by Congressional democrats, Texas republican legislators, and teacher unions. Though Dallas schools educators and parents support the high-stakes testing, they see the unfairness of the rating system used. They wish to see NCLB take a cue from the playbook of Dallas schools to accurately measure improvement in student achievement and factor out the demographics. Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more on Dallas schools visit http://www.schoolsk-12.com/Texas/Dallas/index.html ]]> A Wake-up Call For Educators Of At-risk Youth http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-wake-up-call-for-educators-of-at-risk-youth http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-wake-up-call-for-educators-of-at-risk-youth#comments Sun, 28 Jan 2007 20:27:10 +0000 risk youthmalik shabazzshaka zulufannie lou hamerharriet tubmanquality health careblack history month http://www.artwoo.com/article/a-wake-up-call-for-educators-of-at-risk-youth
It would be a travesty of justice to approach the subject of At- without addressing how people of color are affected since the largest number of At-Risk Youth are of color. Three primary areas of concern are:

1.Our higher rate of incarceration, from juvenile to state penitentiaries, compared to our white counterparts.

2.Our limited access to affordable and .

3.The lack of appropriate pay for qualified teachers to work in economically deprived areas with our at-risk youth--the "shadow kids."

I am aware that it is impossible for a single person to speak to all of the opinions, experiences and ideologies of a race of people however, is my desire to express as much as I am able based upon my exposure.

As a Black man living in America it is obvious that I (We) are attending way too many funerals of our youth. Yet there is a greater number of youth who are physically alive according to medical sources, but to those of us who know them, we know that they are dying--spiritually, intellectually and emotionally due to the infestation of negativity and mis-education. We have some of the most physically overweight and unhealthy people in some of the most economically deprived communities ("When you control a man's thinking you don't have to control his actions."--Carter Woodson) and those numbers are growing exponentially.

As a member of the group known as African Americans, we are a very resilient people with unlimited potential who possess a rich culture. We exist on the shoulders of giants such as , Marcus Garvey, , , Martin Luther King Jr., El Hajj and multitudes more whose names we don't know and whose history we have not studied, excluding minimal discussions which are condoned during the so-called .

However, in spite of all things considered, many fighters for our at-risk youth become co-opted and silenced by the need to keep insurance, pay mortgages, car notes, win friends and influence people. It is not popular to be race-specific in our empowerment and teaching methods, although the disproportion in our detention centers, alternative schools and among at-risk youth is, race-specific. In attempts to be politically correct, all inclusive and non-offensive, we have watered downed, generalized and broad-brushed our approach to where the core of the message, if still present at all, is having little effect.

We have developed individual wealth and collective poverty. We have spread throughout the Diaspora and become disconnected in our own homes. In communities of color, the definition of success has been too often defined by material possessions over quality of life; excessive alcohol consumption under the illusion of living the good life; a pervasion of music in our community that denigrates our women and causes our sense of brotherhood among males to be degenerated into a hatred of self and kind. Then we, as adults, award and reward the musical artist with top ratings, air play, movie deals and unsupervised time with our children, in the name of freedom. The results of this mentality are displayed in the local newspapers, evening news and our local funeral homes.

The good news is although this is not an easy task we, as individuals and as a nation, have overcome monumental challenges in our past and present when our cause was more critical than the consequences that we would face. The result is that many one time at-risk youth have turned out successful in spite of all the challenges.

We must work to close the generational divide. Effective education must include the parents or whoever are their caregivers. What harvester would complain of the fruit without ever giving attention to the tree? Also we don't have to be a part of an organization to get started moving towards adjusting the mindset (even though that helps). We can begin in our homes, in our classrooms, and within our own circle of influence. We need a paradigm shift. Of course this has to first begin with us.

All we need are three things:

1)A sincere desire to change the current situation. (Of course you have to realize that whatever effects one of us directly affects us all indirectly.)

2)The willingness to make a plan and follow it. (This cannot be a quick fix, microwave or sprint-like approach. This is a slow-cooker, a marathon, a lifetime change.) And,

3)The willingness to put in the required work. (It ain't over till it's over!)

"The Way of R.E.S.P.E.C.T." encourages and promotes an approach of:

•Remembering your ancestors, to close the gap between generations.

•Elevating your understanding of yourself, your students and the challenges that both face.

•Staying Strong and Staying Ready--physically, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually.

•Pursuing your dreams with passion (finding what matters not just what works).

•Encouraging each other; creating a support system.

•Creating opportunities for success instead of waiting for opportunities to knock at the door.

•Then teaching others what you know. It becomes stronger the more you share it.

For my brothers and sisters of color and all those who work with children and families of color, I share this quote from Marcus Garvey: "Others have had the advantage of organization for centuries, so what seems to them unnecessary, from a racial point of view, becomes necessary to us, who have had to labor all along under the disadvantage of being scattered without a racial aim or purpose."

"Until lions tell their tale, the story of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." African Proverb

Respect, Marcus "Dr. Respect" Gentry Marcus Gentry is an innovative facilitator, motivator and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience as a trainer, coach, consultant and character builder. Visit http://www.marcusgentry.com/Marcus%20Gentry%20Media%20and%20News.htm for more information. ]]> Deep Web And Travel Industry: Exclusive Interview With Marcus P. Zillman http://www.artwoo.com/article/deep-web-and-travel-industry-exclusive-interview-with-marcus-p-zillman http://www.artwoo.com/article/deep-web-and-travel-industry-exclusive-interview-with-marcus-p-zillman#comments Sun, 09 Sep 2007 23:25:00 +0000 deep webgoogleweb search enginesmajor search enginestravel operatortrillionwikis http://www.artwoo.com/article/deep-web-and-travel-industry-exclusive-interview-with-marcus-p-zillman Deep Web, information retrieval and Internet.

Marcus is currently the Executive Director of the Virtual Private Library. He is a member of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, and is also actively involved as an internationally known speaker and author.

Marcus will talk about Deep Web, search engines' future and their relationship with travel industry.

To start our interview...: what is your definition of Deep Web?

The simple definition of the Deep Web is the area of the World Wide Web that is not searched consistently and therefore not readily available to the searcher and researcher. It may be files, databases, .ps documents et. al. that the are not programmed or have algorithms to search.

Is it possible to estimate the real width of the Web? What's the ratio between Invisible and Visible Web?

I have seen numerous studies and discussions on this that state the Deep Web represents 500 billion pages to 1 pages. I would lean to the higher side as content is being developed at a tremendous rate with blogs, , etc. The traditional web searched by and others normally searches in the area of 20 to 30 billion pages depending on you speak to. Now you can see a very large ratio between traditional web and the Deep Web... on the high side 30 billion versus 1 trillion.

The travel industry is extremely affected by consumer generated media. In your opinion, how relevant is to understand and monitor the Deep Web for a ?

It is extremely important for the travel operator to not only understand the Deep Web but know how to work within the Deep Web to discover new knowledge as well as to gain competitive knowledge and learn what the consumer is thinking.

I was a guest speaker at a national travel operator conference in 1995 and told them that the Internet is coming ... the Internet is coming .... and soon consumers would be purchasing tickets direct online!! Needless to say I was not well received but of course I was invited back in two years to show them what they should be doing .... interesting times then and now!

Do you think that search engines accuracy will improve in the next future and that the gap between indexed files and invisible ones will narrow?

Very good question! I would hopefully say yes but in the real virtual world it is more likely to maintain to the same ratio as new types of files and knowledgebases are constantly being developed not to mention all the video and multimedia files types currently being added to the Internet that would fall into the Deep Web.

Do you think that the new Universal Search algorithm will significantly improve Google's performances in terms of its capacity of investigating the deep web?

As the founder of BotSpot and long time bot builder the ultimate goal was and will always be a Universal Search Algorithm! If this algorithm is created and all the files on the Internet are receptive and designed to accommodate the Universal Search Bot then it will allow improved Google's performance in the capacity of investigating the Deep Web... I think we need to be concentrating on teaching folks how to search and how to write search queries first ;-) ... many times search results are based on Garbage In, Garbage Out...

Do you think that a really semantic search engine as powerful as Google will ever appear on the market?

Google has gained significant market share since its inception in 1996 at Stanford. I have seen and continue to investigate a number of semantic search engines as this area is of high interest to me. In fact I have created a special section on semantic web resources in Deep Web Research Subject Tracer Information Blog showing how this area is growing and will be part of the future of searching. Other areas include RDF that allow for significant better tagging to help better identify the content.

One of your most successful keynote is "Searching the Internet in 2007 and beyond": how do you see the information gathering process to evolve in the next future? Will the search engines remain the main doors for information retrieval or will they be replaced by other tools (RSS, e-mail alerting..)?

Searching in the future will be a truly exciting adventure. We will be seeing far more exacting answers with less final scrolling! We will be obtaining information that will be close to 100% relevancy and allowing us to then compare resulting finds to obtain what we truly desire. In my just released publication Current Awareness Monitors, Alerts and Information Traps for 2008 I show all the monitors, alerts and information traps that are available now on the web. The future will even have more of these to keep folks current in their business, profession or special interest! Every travel operator needs to be monitoring for their business name, personal name and competitors name not to mention other special interests area... this should be done now and be part of your on going market intelligence program!

How will users manage the information overload of the Web?

The key to managing information overload on the Web is EDUCATION! I have listed many resources to help overcome the information overload on the Web and they are freely available from my Manage Information Overload presentation resources page.

What are your three top advices for travel operators in order to monitor the online reputation? You must understand the Deep Web, you must set up bots to monitor your name and competition and you must have current awareness information traps set to bring you the latest information in your field or niched area of your interest/profession!

In this post, "Google Aquires Internet", the author imagines a possible future (2017) for Google, Internet, Microsoft and the others search engines: do you think it could be an insightful article or a joke?

Future articles are always insightful but if one knows and understands the original creation of the Internet (1969) and how the Internet Engineering Task Forces were set up... then one would understand that not one person, not one company, not one country will ever be able to acquire or even control the Internet! We truly live in exciting times where the world has truly become a global economy and the Internet has ignited a global collaboration capacity that has never been seen before in all of mankind! Relactions is a web company that offers Travel and Hospitality operators consulting in travel web marketing and http://www.relactions.com/en/online-marketing-and-pr/reputation-and-online-= pr. First published on http://blog.relactions.com ]]> Atlanta Aquarium http://www.artwoo.com/article/atlanta-aquarium http://www.artwoo.com/article/atlanta-aquarium#comments Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:27:05 +0000 atlanta aquariumgeorgia aquariumbuild an aquariumsquare foot facilitycentennial olympic parkquotcity of atlanta http://www.artwoo.com/article/atlanta-aquarium Atlanta Aquarium.

Some people call aquariums and;the new zoosandquot; and without a doubt, they are some of the hottest lures. The recently opened Atlanta Aquarium was created to draw visitors to the city. Developed in part by the , this titanic aquarium draws in travelers, who are then enticed to visit other destinations within the downtown entertainment zone.

The original idea for opening the Atlanta aquarium, also known as , was developed by Bernie Marcus. In November 2001, Mr. Marcus announced his plans to donate the funds required to in downtown Atlanta. From that idea, the Atlanta Aquarium was born.

The Atlanta Aquarium is a half-million housing, more than 100,000 animals in 8 million gallons of fresh and salt water. From project groundbreaking to the grand opening, the entire construction process took only 27 months to complete. The Atlanta Aquarium is located on 9 acres of land adjacent to the in the downtown area.

When you visit the Atlanta Aquarium, you'll notice the unique appearance of the building's exterior. The facilities were designed to look like a giant ship breaking through a wave. As visitors move forward to the large atrium inside the building, they are led into the facility by andquot;a wall of fishandquot; guiding them inside. Once inside, guests are given the option to choose from five main galleries. Each gallery is easily distinguishable with a sign and icon at the entrance.

Take time to visit each of these fascinating galleries housed within the Atlanta Aquarium:

Cold Water Quest -- shows items covered in ice Georgia Explorer -- identified by a light house River Scout

-- displays a cascading waterfall Ocean Voyager -- offers a peephole into the huge habitat Tropical Diver -- with two video screens representing fish on a reef.

After visiting each exhibit, guests return to the main atrium to visit the next gallery.

Visitors to the Atlanta Aquarium will enjoy about 60 habitats through 12,000 square feet of viewing windows. The windows are made of a durable acrylic with a total weight of 328 tons. The largest of the habitats is a massive 263 feet long by 126 feet wide, with a depth of 33 feet. This giant carries 6.2 million gallons of water. This display, specially designed as a habitat for whale sharks, is also home to tens of thousands of other animals that commonly thrive amid coral reefs and open ocean waters.

As you continue to explore the Atlanta Aquarium, you'll find a 100-foot long tunnel and one of the world's largest aquarium windows, giving a glimpse into the whale shark habitat. The second of the largest habitats in the Atlanta Aquarium, it holds 800,000 gallons of water, and was specifically developed to simulate the natural habitat of beluga whales.

Anyone with an interest in nature and oceanic life will marvel at the Atlanta Aquarium. Spend the day viewing 100 thousand creatures representing 500 species from around the globe living in over 8 million gallons of fresh and salt water. The Atlanta Aquarium is a true ocean jewel, right in the middle of Georgia. Nancy Anderson contributes to several online magazines, including http://recreation-site.com and http://jebog.com ]]> What Every Manager Ought To Know Why The Employees Leave The Company http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-every-manager-ought-to-know-why-the-employees-leave-the-company http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-every-manager-ought-to-know-why-the-employees-leave-the-company#comments Sun, 02 Dec 2007 16:35:00 +0000 marcus buckinghamcurt coffmangallup organizationsense of belongingfirst breakhr managementfeel at ease http://www.artwoo.com/article/what-every-manager-ought-to-know-why-the-employees-leave-the-company
One of the biggest research done by the , compiled in a book titled First, Break All the Rules by and , states that if you want to know why those good employees leave the company, you should look into the manager.

Employees donand#8217;t simply leave the company they have been working for just because of the money. And, actually, itand#8217;s not the company that they leave, itand#8217;s the working unit, the manager.

How does that happen?

Letand#8217;s say that the company gives generous pay, benefits and training, and somehow the employees are satisfied with that. Yet, this company has no good manager to lead and handle these people.

A bad manager doesnand#8217;t know how to treat their subordinates well enough. They donand#8217;t realize that good employees are the biggest assets for the company. Yes, there might be many people out there looking for jobs, yet, these managers donand#8217;t count the expenses the company has to spend on recruitments and trainings. Plus, the possibility that the good employees leave the company for the competitors. They donand#8217;t consider the loss that company might have to suffer.

That is why it is necessary for employers/managers to learn more about tips on handling employees. They have to understand how to build employeesand#8217; towards the company, how to create a comforting atmosphere so that the employees in staying at the company and most important, how to praise the employees.

Those tips are not only good to retain employees but also good to augment their performance. The employeesand#8217; satisfaction will surely affects their way of work and eventually affect the company growth. David W Richards has been working for several companies and has a wide experience in . He shares other information as well, such as on http://agreementloan.info and http://advisordebt.info. ]]> Car Loans - The Good, Bad and Ugly http://www.artwoo.com/article/car-loans-the-good-bad-ugly http://www.artwoo.com/article/car-loans-the-good-bad-ugly#comments Thu, 14 Sep 2006 18:27:11 +0000 year oldspersonal financesecured loanscredit cardsstudent loansconsumer credit counsellingage group http://www.artwoo.com/article/car-loans-the-good-bad-ugly year olds. Recent figures now estimate that the average level of unsecured debt for this is almost £8000. This is usually accumulated across , overdrafts and loans. However the picture may not be as bad as you would first assume, because make up almost 50% of this debt. Students in the UK have now accepted that they will build up a level of debt as they progress through the final part of their education, but the concern I have is that many have no real awareness of how high these levels of debt are. A little sound advice on controlling the debt and options they have for repaying should be a pre-requisite before any credit is offered.

For Students though, financial difficulty was the reason that 34% of them quoted would make them consider dropping out of courses.

The average student debt on graduation is now thought to be over £13,000.

Looking back over the past 4 years the rate of bankruptcy in this age group has grown from 7.9% to 18.7%.

The FSA (Financial Services Authority) recently commissioned a report into the area and found that of all 16-24 year olds, almost 30% said they wouldn't know how to budget their weekly finances. Almost two-thirds of them wouldn't know the organisations they could go to for help if they got into financial difficulties and only half of all 16 year olds had been taught how to manage money. Credit cards are just as much an issue for this age group as for any other, with almost 60% admitting that they go over budget when they use debit or credit cards.

Finally another figure from the Service last year -- the level of debt is slightly higher for young males than females, but the females have the higher number of individual debts. Marcus Brooks writes on a variety of subject areas for the UK provider http://www.securedloanuk.com ]]> Young People And Debt http://www.artwoo.com/article/young-people-and-debt http://www.artwoo.com/article/young-people-and-debt#comments Mon, 11 Sep 2006 12:27:05 +0000 year oldspersonal financesecured loanscredit cardsstudent loansconsumer credit counsellingage group http://www.artwoo.com/article/young-people-and-debt year olds. Recent figures now estimate that the average level of unsecured debt for this is almost £8000. This is usually accumulated across , overdrafts and loans. However the picture may not be as bad as you would first assume, because make up almost 50% of this debt. Students in the UK have now accepted that they will build up a level of debt as they progress through the final part of their education, but the concern I have is that many have no real awareness of how high these levels of debt are. A little sound advice on controlling the debt and options they have for repaying should be a pre-requisite before any credit is offered.

For Students though, financial difficulty was the reason that 34% of them quoted would make them consider dropping out of courses.

The average student debt on graduation is now thought to be over £13,000.

Looking back over the past 4 years the rate of bankruptcy in this age group has grown from 7.9% to 18.7%.

The FSA (Financial Services Authority) recently commissioned a report into the area and found that of all 16-24 year olds, almost 30% said they wouldn't know how to budget their weekly finances. Almost two-thirds of them wouldn't know the organisations they could go to for help if they got into financial difficulties and only half of all 16 year olds had been taught how to manage money. Credit cards are just as much an issue for this age group as for any other, with almost 60% admitting that they go over budget when they use debit or credit cards.

Finally another figure from the Service last year -- the level of debt is slightly higher for young males than females, but the females have the higher number of individual debts. Marcus Brooks writes on a variety of subject areas for the UK provider http://www.securedloanuk.com ]]> The Tea Room Business Plan - The Value Added Proposition http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-tea-room-business-plan-the-value-added-proposition http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-tea-room-business-plan-the-value-added-proposition#comments Sun, 27 May 2007 07:34:59 +0000 tea teatea roomquality teatea businesstea waretea productstea drinking http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-tea-room-business-plan-the-value-added-proposition
All business represents an exchange of one form or another and the exchange is usually facilitated by money. The essence of the exchange however is the perceived value added on behalf of the customer. If your customer perceives that your offering adds value to their life or business, then there is a good chance that customer will do business with you if you ask for his business.

Without perceived value added however, you will not get the business and your business will fail. It is as simple as that. But remember that value must be perceived and communication to customers and prospects is as important as the value itself.

What are the ways to establish perceived value in a Business?

First, understand the world of tea. Tea education is important if you are going to open a . The more you know about tea, the more you will be able to educate your customers. The more you teach your customers, the more satisfied clients you will have. Satisfied customers become repeat customers which is what your goal is for your business.

A tea room is a business that provides high and food products coupled with a comfortable, attractive setting and good service. Each element sends a message that reinforces a value added proposition. With the proper value added proposition, the tea room will be able

to sell on quality (not price) and charge a premium price for products and services. Specific ways to establish the value added proposition are:

=95Provide only the highest quality

=95Utilize only the best

=95Develop a menu that will offer complementary products that enhance the experience

=95Provide a tea environment that is totally warm and welcoming

=95Develop a culture of customer satisfaction

=95Finally communicate your value added proposition to everyone you meet

Tea Room Tip: No mater how strong your value added proposition, it will not be effective unless strongly communicated to your customer audience. Marcus Stout is President of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, green tea and wholesale tea go to http://www.goldenmoontea.com ]]> Skip Hire - Planning Will Always Save You Money http://www.artwoo.com/article/skip-hire-planning-will-always-save-you-money http://www.artwoo.com/article/skip-hire-planning-will-always-save-you-money#comments Mon, 11 Sep 2006 12:27:12 +0000 inert wasteextra chargesskip hireaheadaccessmarcus brookslandfill tax http://www.artwoo.com/article/skip-hire-planning-will-always-save-you-money ahead. This may seem an obvious thing to do, but it actually translates into making a few simple decisions, which some people just find hard to do. is a prime example where going ahead without a plan will certainly involve you spending more money. The main planning considerations for skip hire involve, where you are going to site the skip, how long you need to keep it for, what you are going to dispose of in the skip and how easily the skip company vehicle is going to your site.

Let's look at the costs. You will pay the skip company a basic fee to hire the skip for their standard period of hire - this is normally based on the size of the skip. The thinking being that smaller skips are quicker to fill than larger ones. You will then pay if you need to keep the skip longer than the standard period, if you overfill the skip, if the skip is sited on a public highway ( because you will probably need a local authority licence) and additional charges if you dispose of certain non-. In the UK, applies for non-inert waste and is currently charged at around £24 per tonne. More hazardous waste types, like asbestos, need special handling and will cost even more.

So how do you keep the costs down? Don't hire the skip until you really need it and until you have enough waste to fill it. Don't mix non-inert waste with other waste - otherwise you'll pay additional charges on every load. Don't hire a skip so big that the vehicle cannot access your site easily. If the vehicle is damaged whilst delivering to your location you may be liable. Also be careful where you site the skip - delivery vehicles are very heavy and can easily damage weak driveways. No point in hiring a £200 skip and then getting a £2000 driveway repair bill! is a writer and publisher of a variety of home improvement and building resources. His latest initiative on skip hire can be found at http://www.skiphiredirect.co.uk ]]> Private Label Bottled Water With A Quality Label Creates A Quality Brand Message http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-label-bottled-water-with-a-quality-label-creates-a-quality-brand-message http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-label-bottled-water-with-a-quality-label-creates-a-quality-brand-message#comments Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:30:01 +0000 private label bottled waterproblem when tryingpromote your brandprivate label wateraesthetically pleasingdisappointlow quality http://www.artwoo.com/article/private-label-bottled-water-with-a-quality-label-creates-a-quality-brand-message Private label bottled water is a highly effective way to but to be successful you must have a professionally designed private label. The design needs to be with an effective message that will send a hard hitting brand message..

There are many companies on the web that advertise private label bottled water but most do it as a sideline business and do not have a professional graphic artist on staff. The resulting label can be very ing as a low quality message is sent about a high quality brand. It is difficult enough to develop a quality brand and a high quality bottle is a very cost effective way to advertise. But low quality artwork will actually hurt a brand.

Developing a quality label with an effective brand message takes skill and time and care must be taken by the supplier to ensure that the message meets the specifications of the customer. Revisions are often required to ensure that the label is correct and the customer always must have final approval. Otherwise conflicts may occur and disappointment is inevitable.

Following the design phases of the projects, quality label materials and printing is required. The label must be water proof and sturdy enough to withstand frequent handling. Paper labels that are not laminated are poor quality and not commercial; grade. A label that has ink running or is peeling off of the bottles goes a long way toward destroying the quality image that is required to support the brand.

Private label bottled water is often used to create word of mouth advertising in competitive industries. It is cost effective and powerful when prepared properly.

When low quality design and labels are used however, the result can be a to promote a brand. Look for a supplier with a reputation for quality and customer service and the results will not disappoint. Marcus Stout is President of Element H2O. For more information about bottled water, private label bottled water and bottled water delivery go to http://www.elementh2o.com ]]> Fixed Rate Mortgages More Popular Than Ever http://www.artwoo.com/article/fixed-rate-mortgages-more-popular-than-ever http://www.artwoo.com/article/fixed-rate-mortgages-more-popular-than-ever#comments Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:27:14 +0000 council of mortgage lendersfixed rate mortgagemortgage dealsaverage mortgagefirst time buyer mortgagesrate dealsremortgages http://www.artwoo.com/article/fixed-rate-mortgages-more-popular-than-ever Council of Mortgage lenders recently reported that an amazing 71% of all mortages and in April 2006 were arranged on fixed rate terms, that's 17% higher than the same period last year. The increasing attraction of fixed is a product of the attractive offers being made by lenders together with a desire by consumers to lock-in to the current low rates for as long as possible.

The balance shifted slightly towards new mortgages and away from remortgages, possibly a symptom of lenders making the benefits of remortgaging less attractive to existing borrowers -- the recent increases in exit fees almost certainly a factor here. (That increase is currently under regulatory investigation by the way) First-time buyer mortgages grew in size slightly to an average of £106,400, that's almost £12,000 higher than April last year. First buyers are now borrowing an average of 3.21 times their earnings, which is also slightly up on last month. The payer now spends 16.2% of their income repaying their mortgage, slightly less than previously and probably caused, the Council says, by the increased take up of fixed rate deals.

There has also been a crop of new deals where lenders are offering to fix rates for as long as 15 years. That sounds crazy until you work out that it indicates supreme confidence in the stability of the money markets lokking forward. Heartening information for all of us.

In my opinion all these mortgage factors are reaching worrying levels with people borrowing not only more and for longer, but are also committing to repayment figures that are higher proportions of their income than ever before. All this is driven by the spiralling increase in house prices over recent years and a general worry by some people that if they don't get on the housing market now, they never will. Marcus Brooks writes for the http://www.reviewmortgages.co.uk website www.reviewmortgages.co.uk, a source of information on mortgage offers and cheap mortgages. ]]> Fees On Mortgages Investigated By The FSA http://www.artwoo.com/article/fees-on-mortgages-investigated-by-the-fsa http://www.artwoo.com/article/fees-on-mortgages-investigated-by-the-fsa#comments Mon, 11 Sep 2006 12:27:11 +0000 mortgage lendersmortgage companiesmortgage mattersmortgage providersfinancial ombudsman servicealliance and leicesterdisconcerting http://www.artwoo.com/article/fees-on-mortgages-investigated-by-the-fsa mortgage providers charge when they setup and close mortgage arrangements.

A few years ago these fees were very small or not charged in some cases. However they have increased sharply over recent months and the FSA wants to know why. My view is that recent legislation changes and more competition have meant that the have been unable to earn money in the usual ways on their products, so they have just taken the easy route of hiking up fees in order to keep profits high. Companies such as Abbey, , Cheltenham and Gloucester and Northern Rock all charge between £250 and £300 pounds to close a mortgage. Nationwide which previously had no exit fee now charges £99.

In addition to exit fees increases, arrangement fees have also jumped recently to levels as high as £700 in some cases. The Council of which represents the banks and building societies on claims that although fees have increased, other charges had gone down and that interest rates are now lower. The FSA is not about to buy that excuse we suspect and has asked for an explanation. It's that mortgage companies claim to be lending at lower interest rates when rates are largely controlled by external factors.

Customers who have suffered are being encouraged to complain to their lenders in the first case and then refer to the if they are still not satisfied. It seems that if you complain in an organised and well-documented manner, then your fees will either be reduced or refunded completely -- a sure sign that the mortgage companies are worried about picking a fight with FSA. Marcus Brooks writes for the mortgage review website http://www.reviewmortgages.co.uk and the life insurance website http://www.lifenow.co.uk ]]> Helpful Online Wedding Planning Resources http://www.artwoo.com/article/helpful-online-wedding-planning-resources http://www.artwoo.com/article/helpful-online-wedding-planning-resources#comments Wed, 24 May 2006 09:32:03 +0000 mail featureneiman marcuspottery barnwedding planningwedding channelbloomingdaleundoubtedly http://www.artwoo.com/article/helpful-online-wedding-planning-resources undoubtedly use the Internet to obtain wedding information quickly. While there are many websites that offer wedding information, the is one of the more trusted sources for information. What makes the Wedding Channel such a good source? Let's take a look.

It's true that the Internet is a valuable resource for just about any kind of information you need. However, not all websites provide information that you can use. The information that is available is often duplicated and not about something new and innovative. In some instances you will have to research several websites to find the information you need. The Wedding Channel features articles about the most current topics in . Most of the articles that are available on the Wedding Channel are written by industry professionals, so you can rest assured that the articles contain information you can use.

The articles that are available on the Wedding Channel are categorized so that you can easily locate what you need. Whether you need ideas for decorating your wedding venue or tools for planning your ceremony, the Wedding Channel can help. There is also a search function that enables you to search for a keyword throughout the entire website. There is also a directory featuring professionals who can assist you with your wedding. The directory is organized according to regions, so you simply select your region and the search returns a list of wedding vendors in your area. If you need to show someone the list, the results page contains an e- so that you can easily forward the list.

Who doesn't enjoy getting extras? The Wedding Channel partners with some of the largest retail shops including Tiffany and Company, 's, , and , as well as hotels. There are opportunities on the Wedding Channel for you to win prizes through some of these partners. You can also register with these shops at the Wedding Channel website. In addition to obtaining special deals from the Wedding Channel, you can also manage all the registries that you have already setup. You will need to register with the Wedding Channel website and then log in to view your personal information. There is also a wedding registry guide in this area of the Wedding Channel to assist you. Download our excellent discount wedding planning mini-course absolutely FREE at http://www.discountweddingguide.com/ ]]> The Benefits Of Owning A Roomba http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-benefits-of-owning-a-roomba http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-benefits-of-owning-a-roomba#comments Mon, 15 May 2006 12:32:06 +0000 robotic vacuum cleanervacuuminggeorge jetsonirobotroombahousehold cleaningimpressive design http://www.artwoo.com/article/the-benefits-of-owning-a-roomba Roomba is one of the most unusual appliances around. You might feel a little like the futuristic cartoon character when you first bring the robot into the house. Still, while you might be initially leery of a self-propelled vacuum cleaner, there are numerous reasons to purchase one for your home.

To begin with, this is a highly efficient device. It can clean your living room, family room, and carpeted kitchen in no time. It has not only brushes, but filters and cleaning mechanisms as well. Because of its sturdy casing, it offers the best possible operation.

In addition, the Roomba is quite easy to use, since you can leave it unattended. You simply turn it on, let it go to work, and you'll return to find your carpet perfectly clean. Also, if it loses battery power, it can recharge on its own.

The Roomba is also quite compact, so it can fit underneath furniture. As a result, it can reach some areas that a normal vacuum cleaner cannot. Its bumpers allow it to absorb collision, so it is a durable piece of machinery. The Roomba is also characterized by intelligent technology. It operates like the devices the military uses when clearing land mines on war fields. Also, because of its , it will not fall down stairs. In addition, because of the virtual wall device that accompanies it, it will not venture outside an open doorway.

Another benefit to owning a Roomba is that it won't destroy your bank account. If you think a would be expensive, think again. An can cost less than $200, making it a real bargain. Essentially, a Roomba won't cost you any more than a conventional vacuum cleaner.

The Roomba is also a tremendous time-saver. It cleans rooms quite quickly, so your vacuuming routine will no longer be an all-morning affair. For the most part, the only time you'll have to devote to vacuuming is the time it takes to turn the device on. As a result, your chores should become easier than ever. And isn't that what appliances were meant to accomplish? John Marcus specializes in roombas http://www.e-roomba.com and http://www.roomba-e.com ]]> Self Help Methods Are Available To Take The Anger Out Of Your System http://www.artwoo.com/article/self-help-methods-are-available-to-take-the-anger-out-of-your-system http://www.artwoo.com/article/self-help-methods-are-available-to-take-the-anger-out-of-your-system#comments Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:15:00 +0000 anger management techniquescontrolling angerdealing with angeranger managementgood starting pointmanagement problemsmanagement problem http://www.artwoo.com/article/self-help-methods-are-available-to-take-the-anger-out-of-your-system anger management problems is many and if it were not for the fact that there are a number of different self help available, the problem would indeed have become a much more serious cause of concern than it is.

Simply Visit A Therapist For Counseling - When faced with different choices of self help anger management techniques, a very common option taken by a person suffering from anger s is to turn to a therapist and get counseled for his or her problem. However, a number of other alternatives are also available and one such is to read up as much literature as is available on the subject of , and with so much literature available on the topic, it is a for every sufferer of anger management problems.

Or, if one is in need of some company and one desires to have a more sustained means of getting self help with the anger management problem, there is always the possibility of joining anger management courses that is very effective means of overcoming the problem. It offers much scope to interact with others having similar problems and thus opens up avenues to interact and learn about other people's experiences with the same problem, and learning how others cope with the problem, will give fresh insight into your own methods of management problems. Furthermore, self help anger management also requires getting support and understanding from friends and family which can help bring things under control.

You may think that only adults suffer from anger management problems, but the truth is that anger is indiscriminate in who it affects and even children that normally behave very well can become its victim. A child that has hitherto not shown much sign of becoming angry can suddenly develop a problem with controlling his or her anger and would thus require help from parents to learn some self help means to cope with such a problem.

If you are a sufferer of anger management problems, there is some hope for you since there are many resources that you can tap into in order to learn self help anger management techniques. Some of the better self help means to control anger is taking to doing yoga and also meditating, which are very effective means of overcoming anger problems. You can also take to reading books and even make use of audio books on how to control anger, and this is an effective and simple self help anger management technique that anyone can use and thus overcome whatever anger related problems he or she may be having. Marcus Jones does a keen study on life and what makes the world go round. He writes with enthusiasm of his findings and experiences. You may find more of his information at http://the-self-improvement-center.info/ ]]> Self Help And Anger Management http://www.artwoo.com/article/self-help-and-anger-management http://www.artwoo.com/article/self-help-and-anger-management#comments Sat, 08 Sep 2007 11:25:01 +0000 anger management techniquesthose suffering fromfellow sufferersregard totherapistsproper guidancecounseling http://www.artwoo.com/article/self-help-and-anger-management regard to self help anger management are available to fight off this condition.

From - Among the many self help available is the one that requires taking counseling from therapists, and there are also very many books written on the subject to enable a person to utilize the knowledge gained by reading such literature on the subject and create their own self help anger management techniques that will work well for them.

There is also anger management courses which is a means very often used by people that wish to get more in-depth help from experts regarding controlling their anger, and it also affords anger to interact with and thus can gain valuable insights as to how self help will make them overcome such problems and so should incorporate such techniques in order to bring their anger under control. Self help also means the sufferer is able to avail of support as well as understanding from others, and in this regard family members are the persons the sufferer must need to turn to when requiring the necessary understanding and support and once given, also helps ensure that the situation is not further aggravated.

Also, anger management problems are not just confined to adults; but, can affect children as well and it is not uncommon for children that behave well to also be affected by anger that was not evident earlier. It is up to the parents to provide the child with and should expend their energies to help in contributing to the child learning self help anger management techniques and so, overcome the behavioral problems.

It is also common for sufferers to find self help from other resources besides their parents, and taking to performing yoga as well as meditation is just one instance of how a self help anger management technique can help overcome the problem. Other methods for self help include reading up books as well as listening to audio books on the subject, and with a few more available alternatives, it is possible for the sufferer to find an ideal method of self help to help get rid of the problem of anger. Marcus Jones does a keen study on life and what makes the world go round. He writes with enthusiasm of his findings and experiences. You may find more of his information at http://the-self-improvement-center.info/ . ]]> Why Invest In Waiting Room Toys http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-invest-in-waiting-room-toys http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-invest-in-waiting-room-toys#comments Sat, 30 Jun 2007 02:25:02 +0000 waiting room toysactivity toysmarket segmentdurable childrenretail storesdesirable markethesitant http://www.artwoo.com/article/why-invest-in-waiting-room-toys
Any business that caters to women with children knows that this segment is in desperate need of convenience shopping. When women take their children to , they are generally rushed and spend less time in the stores. They sometimes prefer to not shop at all and push off their shopping to later dates. The main reason for this is that young children can often loose patience, and end up pressuring their mothers to move on. In the end, the retailers are the ones that really lose out.

One low cost solution is to invest in 's toys. When children have toys to play with in a store they typically do not rush their mothers to leave that store. In many cases, women will return to this store and tell friends about this child-friendly establishment. This results in increased store traffic from this desirable .

Having toys can be great for a variety of businesses. Retail stores of all types certainly stand to benefit from having toys. Salons, doctor's offices and banks can also attract customers by providing for children to play with. The simple investment in a durable children's play table and a few wooden can make a world of difference.

For some business owners this may seem a little unconventional. Understandably, many are to dedicate room in their places of business for toys. That's why it may be easier to start off by buying one small toy and seeing if customers appreciate it before making any serious purchases. In most cases, people find that toys are great tools for improving relationships with their customers and driving sales. Y Marcus is a writter for http://www.toyprodigy.com. ]]> High School Baseball http://www.artwoo.com/article/high-school-baseball http://www.artwoo.com/article/high-school-baseball#comments Fri, 12 May 2006 09:32:12 +0000 division 1baseball playersschool baseballprofessional baseballmoneyparents shareclemson http://www.artwoo.com/article/high-school-baseball baseball players as well as their the same mentality, thinking that reaching to play baseball (NCAA) is the main goal for any student. However the paradox is that the same players that think this end up being extremely unhappy about the choice they have made, Division 1 not being the best choice.

When Junior College might be the better choice:

1. You are not one of the top brains in high school. Most of 2.5-3.0 GPA high school students believe that to be the easiest way is to attend a junior college.

2. You might be a draft pick, not picked out of high school, wanting to get the benefits of two-year draft eligibility.

3. You're one of the chosen players but you're not good enough to sign a contract and still you would love to play . Junior college way gives you the opportunity to either sign or be re-drafted when both seasons-freshman and senior seasons end.

4. You dream of conquering Arizona or State while you're being offered from only lesser division 1 schools. If you go to a junior college and show them what your abilities are, you will get the opportunity at the college you really wanted to play at.

There is only one thing both players as well as their parents have to keep in mind: finishing 2 years in a junior college and then being transferred to a division 1 college will lead in one direction: receiving a degree that says "Clemson" or "Arizona State", but says absolutely nothing about the junior college.

Let's talk about now. Almost every division 1 schools (who have 11.7 scholarships for baseball) have to share this money equally with 30-35 players, the player having left a large sum of money to pay. With lower tuition costs and more scholarships (24) many times a junior college can offer 2 free years.

You can save money this simple way: you attend a division 1 school 2 years for free and the next 2 at 50 %, which equals to four years at 75 % savings. All these lead you to a $20,000 save from that 25 % left of every year.

You can also choose a JUCO because of the additional playing opportunities, being able to play against those who are your own age.

Although Junior College sounds good for some of the young players it isn't the right option for all of them. It's almost impossible for a 3.5- 4.0 student, who could attend some of the best colleges as Notre Dame or Duke to even take a junior college in consideration since all these top academic schools don't even consider JUCO transfers.

No matter what the choice is, it's yours and has got to be the right one. Good luck! My name is Andre. I work at the Neiman Marcus at Lenox Square. http://atlantanewsblog.com/ ]]> Shopping For The Designer Shoes http://www.artwoo.com/article/shopping-for-the-designer-shoes http://www.artwoo.com/article/shopping-for-the-designer-shoes#comments Mon, 26 Feb 2007 02:27:07 +0000 designer shoessaks fifth avenuedesigners shoesbergdorf goodmanneiman marcuszapposebay http://www.artwoo.com/article/shopping-for-the-designer-shoes designer shoes, then you are not alone. There are millions of people like you who have probably faced the problems and difficulties of shopping for the designer shoes. The World Wide Web has come up with the awe-inspiring facilities and an innumerable number of online stores engaged in selling the designer shoes of varied brands.

The most important step, hereby, is the selection of the online store that sells designer shoes. Although, as a matter of fact shopping for the designer shoes online is a fun, yet sometimes it turns out to be quite devastating -- especially when the online designer shoe store or the sit dealing with the same are not genuine. It is wise to be extra cautious while shopping on the web -- especially when it comes to the expensive items like the one we are discussing on. Steer clear of the low profile and un known sites and always go for the well-established leading sites such as , although it is not specified for the . Some of the other great sites are Net-A-Potter, , Tower Bridge, Couture, , EDesignerShoes, . These entire sites are authentic sites that have committed to come up with the wide range of awe-inspiring designer shoes to feed the modern world of footwear fashion. One of the most awesome features that entice the general mass is that all of these designer shoe sites offers amazingly discounted rates for the stylized designer shoes.





After you have completed your selection of designers shoe sites, there is lot more to do prior to placing an order. Before clicking on an eye-catching model it would be wise enough to find out all the terms and condition in regard to shipping and exchange policy. The return policy is the most significant part of the story that should be clarified to the fullest extent. The renowned designer shoe sites like the names mentioned above are usually flexible enough to facilitate the online customers by allowing return of the unused pairs shoes if required. Usually they give a specified time span beyond which the return or exchange turns to be void.

Another very significant part of the story is that, while shopping for the designer shoes you should always judge if the particular design would suit your personality and dressing style at all. Unless the specific design goes in complement with you and your personal aura the entire process of shopping will of zero value. Mary Lorainne writes about http://www.shoeshopping247.com ]]>