Inspire Yourself Using Different Platforms

First and foremost, you have to educate yourself with the latest wall craze to know what’s trending these days. For that, you can shift your focus to social media applications, like Pinterest and Instagram. The images uploaded by users on these social platforms can inspire you. You might not even have to turn elsewhere for any further guidance to know which colors should be on your interior walls.

Use the Color Theory to Your Advantage

You should also be aware of the interior designer’s no-fail color theory before opting for any wall paint. The idea of a color wheel is relatively simple. To select the different hues in one color for your room, you must look for shades assembled into one category. For example, when it comes to green, you will see lime, olive, emerald, teal, and hunter green in the same attribute. Implementing these different hues in one room will create a tranquilizing effect, especially in bedrooms. However, if you’re searching for contrasting colors that complement each other, you might want to look on the opposite ends of the color wheel. For instance, a shade of violet will look phenomenal with a shade of amber when you want a pop of colors in any given room.

Use One Statement Piece to Bring Everything Together

We wouldn’t tell you to choose all your furniture and decor items before assessing your wall paint options, since that might be going a bit over the top. However, we would still recommend you opt for one statement piece before thinking about painting any room so that you have a sound starting point. For example, several interior designers use large wall arts, mostly abstract, to inspire themselves. Others focus upon major upholsteries, such as central rugs. Once they have an item with a range of colors to choose from, they can select the warm and cool hues accordingly to set up the rest of the room, including painting the interior walls.

Understand the Whites

Whites also have an astounding range, from stark white with no undertone to warm whites with undertones of yellow, brown, and pink or cool whites with gray, blue, purple, and green.
You need to realize which white to opt for in different settings. For example, if your sole purpose is to make a room look airy and spacious, choosing a stark white for the interior paint color will be your best bet. Cool whites can also help make a room feel more open if you don’t have a lot of natural light filtering inside the room. Contrarily, if you want your space to envelop you in coziness, it’s best to opt for the warmer whites.

Make Your Small Rooms Feel Cozy

In spite of what many people assume, you don’t always have to make your small rooms look airy and spacious with white paint and mirrors. Instead, you can achieve a more sensual effect by opting to paint one of the walls with a warm color, like amber, adding a much-needed oomph into the room. The remaining walls can either be a shade of light gray or a hue of white. You can implement this idea when you have a small room like a library, study, office, or a foyer in your house that needs a major aesthetic do-over.

Don’t Stick to Painting All Walls with One Paint

Many people make the mistake of choosing one paint and doing their whole room with that. Instead, as we advised in the last point, you can always single out one wall to add a touch of intimacy in a room. Plus, you can even opt for patterned wall paint to create a modest expression. Either way, that particular wall can be astoundingly optimized by adding eccentric family photo collage frames or hanging metal or wooden plaques exhibiting paintings or inspirational quotes.

Note: It’s best not to paint all walls in one room with different colors, since that only creates an unnecessarily uncanny look that you wouldn’t appreciate later.

Treat the Ceiling as the Fourth Wall

Moreover, you must not forget to treat your ceiling like a wall as well. For example, if you’re choosing to paint the four walls with a particular color, say blue, you can paint the ceiling with a stark white to pronounce the wall colors. On the other hand, suppose you’re shading your interior walls with any shade of white. In that case, you can integrate some personality into your room by coloring your ceiling with a warm shade, using surrounding paintings or upholstery as an inspiration.

Add Consistency to All Rooms

Consistency is of crucial importance when choosing interior paint colors for your walls. Let’s suppose you opt for the technique mentioned in point number six (Don’t Stick to Painting All Walls with One Paint). By opting to paint one wall in each room with a different shade, you can give each room a distinct aura. However, to ensure consistency in your house and bring everything together, you must keep the color utilized on the remaining three walls similar for all rooms.

Consistency is of crucial importance when choosing interior paint colors for your walls. Let’s suppose you opt for the technique mentioned in point number six (Don’t Stick to Painting All Walls with One Paint). By opting to paint one wall in each room with a different shade, you can give each room a distinct aura. However, to ensure consistency in your house and bring everything together, you must keep the color utilized on the remaining three walls similar for all rooms.

The post How to Choose Interior Paint Colors appeared first on Koshka.

What is Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy refers to the form of energy derived or extracted from the earth’s natural resources. Unlike traditional energy, it’s not exhaustible or finite. For example, wind, sunlight, and water are natural alternatives that don’t rely on fossil fuels. Also, renewable energy is considered the interconnecting link to the green future we strive for since it’s significantly less detrimental to our already struggling environment.

6 Links to A Green Future

There are six renewable energy resources, including wind, solar, ocean, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass. While a few of these resources are re-shaping the energy sector gradually, others are making a comparatively extinguishing and quick stand. Not to mention, although some of these resources’ significance isn’t yet widely realized or understood, they’re still making progress and surfacing despite the current limitations.

To put things into further context, let’s understand the benefits and limitations of these six types of renewable energy resources in brief detail:

1. Wind

Turbines and wind-powered machinery situated on open green fields capture the energy retrieved from wind flow and convert it into electricity. Nowadays, we can see several energy sector businesses planting single-wind turbines and other commercial systems using this particular type of renewable energy to boost a positive attitude among competitors.
The wind is a clean energy source that does not release carbon dioxide or other harmful toxins that pollute the air in any way. Moreover, making investments in wind-powered technology opens up new career opportunities, jobs, and avenues since the equipment installed on wind farms must be maintained and serviced with proficiency to keep them running.

Current Limitations
Considering that most wind farms are planted in remote areas, they aren’t much help for the bustling cities where electricity is needed the most. The reason behind this is that while wind turbines produce close to no pollution, they generate noise and dominate skylines, which is unsuitable for the local wildlife like birds in the area.

2. Solar

Solar energy captured from the sunlight turns into heat, electricity, and even hot water. The Photovoltaic (PV) systems we usually see on rooftops or wide-open fields convert direct sunlight into electricity through solar cells. The best long-term benefit of this renewable energy is that it is an endless supply of a natural resource that could eventually make our reliance upon fossil fuels obsolete.

Current Limitations
While installing solar panels is not that much of a limitation for industrial sectors, personal households can’t usually find spaces with ample sunlight to use this energy appropriately. The upfront maintenance costs can also be an unrealistic expense for them.

3. Ocean

The ocean is a source of renewable energy that offers us thermal and mechanical power. While thermal energy production depends upon the ocean’s warm water going through different systems, mechanical energy relies on the tide’s ebbs and flow generated by the earth’s rotation. Ocean energy, also referred to as wave energy, is an abundant natural resource for cities near oceans and harbors. Moreover, it’s an untapped natural resource that can potentially produce power for around 93,850 homes in the U.S. alone with just 1 TWh/yr of wave energy!

Current Limitations
Individuals living in landlocked areas can’t reap benefits from this particular energy resource. Moreover, the plantation of ocean energy machinery can disrupt the ocean floor and sea life habitat to some extent.

4. Hydroelectric

Hydroelectric power is associated with the energy produced from dam turbines to turn into electricity, also referred to as pumped-storage hydropower. We can see this as an excellent alternative to ocean energy for the landlocked areas that store water in large reservoirs for public consumption. In general, hydroelectric is one of the best types of renewable energy due to its versatility since we can incorporate it at both large and small-scale projects on dams, rivers, and streams.

Current Limitations
The animals living in the waterways where the hydroelectric equipment is placed may suffer due to changing water levels and currents. This type of energy source is also impacted by droughts. Changes in water levels impact energy production. Plus, most hydropower facilities haven’t yet found a way to develop more energy than they use for production.

5. Geothermal

Geothermal energy is the heat trapped under the earth’s crust which often escapes naturally, resulting in disruptive volcanic occurrences. We can produce renewable energy from the heat rising to the earth’s surfaces, saving our earth from natural disasters in the process. While this natural energy is not as common as other renewable energy resources, it still packs plenty of potential for extensive energy supply. Since this system can be built underground, there’s significantly less footprint on the land.

Current Limitations
While cost and infrastructure planning is the major limitation of producing this renewable energy with geothermal plants costing between 2.5 to 5 million to build. Construction of these plants can also cause instability in the land and trigger earthquakes.

6. Biomass

Lastly, we can produce a significant amount of bioenergy from biomass, which is an organic matter extracted from previously living plants and organisms. A few examples of this inaugural renewable energy include harnessing methane gas and burning biomass produced by the natural decomposition of organic materials found in landfills and waterways. Simply put, bioenergy production creates a balanced atmosphere that we can benefit from if our ultimate goal is to see a greener tomorrow.

Current Limitations
We currently don’t have the technology required for replacing fossil fuel consumption with bioenergy production. It can also lead to deforestation because of the vast amounts of wood that is needed to produce enough renewable energy.

As consumers, we have several opportunities to improve our environment by opting for greener energy solutions. We can elevate our standard of living with safer, eco-friendly products that don’t rely upon resources that harm our ecosystem. The day we all begin to strive for the same purpose together as a community, leaving a carbon footprint would become a thing of the past!

The post Renewable Energy – 6 Links To A Green Future appeared first on Koshka.

St. Lucia Day

December 13th marks the day that Swedes honor a saint from the third century. She was Italian and a martyr. But on this day, young Swedish ladies don long white robes, the bravest a crown of candles, and wake their relatives bearing a tray of pastries. There is even a special bun made with saffron called Lucia Cats just for this celebration. It is believed that St. Lucia represents light in the darkness, and well, in Scandinavia, winters are long and it often appears that the sun is visiting the other side of the planet.

St. Nicolas Day

This saint’s birthday is marked on December 6th. He was the role model for the non-religious jolly old elf and was known for giving all his possessions and even his food to help others. Something to think about as we tear into our presents, and feast on multi-courses of rich food and drink.

Christmas

In many European countries, this holiday is considered sacred and/or a time to give thanks for nature’s bounty. In the Ukraine, for example, Christmas Eve is marked with the ‘Holy Supper’. Instead of stockings, houses are decked with sheaves of wheat. The holiday commences when the first star in the sky is sighted.

Kwanzaa

This holiday was created in the 1960s by a California college professor to honor centuries of African traditions and to bring African-Americans together as a community. Celebrated largely in the United States, the name means “First Fruits” and honors the ideals at the core of life- family and unity. Again, light plays a dominant role in the celebration as a candle holder known as a ‘kinara’.

Mardi Gras

In many countries, this day as well as New Year’s Eve, mark time to reflect and ask departed ancestors for guidance and assistance. For the Japanese, it is the most important holiday of the year. At midnight shrines and temples are visited. Many homes strike a ceremonial bell 108 times to represent the negative behaviors believed to be at the root of all evil and misery.

In Ecuador, a straw effigy representing the old year is burned along with his ‘will’ drawn up by each family. The will lists their faults and weaknesses. As the figure burns, it is hoped that their negative behaviors will be destroyed as well.

Mardi Gras

The date varies by year, is celebrated with new clothes, and a lantern parade headed by a silk dragon who represents strength. Firecrackers are thrown at the dragon to keep him from falling asleep. Sounds like fun!

Other Asian traditions include praying to departed loved ones asking them for guidance and wish-fulfillment. Intentions are placed inside a paper horse which is burned so its smoke will convey each message to the intended relative.

Mardi Gras

Marks the day in January that Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar AKA the ‘three wise men’ first saw the infant Jesus. The French celebrate with King Cake, Puerto Rican children awake expecting to find a treat under their beds, and in Spain, it is the day their Christmas is celebrated. The only question this author has is how, in the first century BC, did travelers from India, Arabia, and Persia learn about the coming birth and decide to make a pilgrimage?

Mardi Gras

Revelry’s last hurrah before the solemn Lenten season is celebrated in diverse ways around the globe. The American tradition in New Orleans that includes floats decked with celebrants throwing bead necklaces in celebration of Fat Tuesday, a Lenten precursor. Brazil’s Carnivale is an explosion of bright costumes, parades, and loud music. Then there’s England, where some villages note this event by holding a race where the women of the town run a distance while continuously flipping a pancake. No butter. No maple syrup. For real.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse of how other global citizens celebrate the same holidays we do. Why not incorporate some ideas and cross-generate some new traditions into your family’s holiday gathering? It could be as simple as adding saffron to your stuffing recipe or in lieu of greeting cards sending a list of customized well-wishes or the coming year to everyone on your list. Whatever you decide, make sure you and yours have as joyous a time as possible, each and every winter season!

The post Winter Holidays Around the World appeared first on Koshka.

Test your soil to determine the ph level. Lawns along with plants need adequate nutrients in the soil in order to grow. Testing your soil can let you know of any issues you may have and allow you time to apply the needed nutrients to promote healthy growth come spring. If you need to raise your soil pH, lime should be applied. Lime requires a few months to completely absorb into the soil and applying in warmer climates can cause damage to plants. A fall soil test should show a mid-range result in key nutrients, letting you know you supplied an adequate amount of fertilizer and nutrients throughout the growing season, too low of reading means you ran out of nutrients before the end of the season, and too high means too much fertilizer was used. Fall readings are perfect for gauging the success of your previous growing season.

While you want to test your soil, fall is also the time to fertilize your lawn before heading into the winter months. As fall approaches, plants and grasses begin to “prepare” for winter. The change in temperature and the shorter days trigger the plants to start slowing growth and shift their food storage to their roots. Fertilizer that is applied in the fall is giving the grass the nutrients it needs to store for the winter and use it as fuel for the spring. When spring arrives, the grass greens up quickly and grows thick and lush blocking out weeds.

Fertilizing your lawn provides the nutrients needed for the winter months, however, you do not want to be providing nutrients for the plants/grasses you don’t want. Remove weeds prior to winter. These pesky plants will compete for the nutrients throughout the winter months and take away what is needed for your grass to be healthy come springtime. Also, you will want to remove your annual plants. These plants have to be replaced every year and leaving the dead plants discourages spring growth and can also be home to many lawn and garden killing insects.

Once you have removed all the unwanted weeds, you will want to make sure to cut the grass. As fall approaches, the grass starts to slow down growth so mowing will not be necessary as often. Climate plays a role in how often you should cut your grass through the winter months. For warmer climates, cut your grass as you normally would just about half as many times. So if you are used to cutting it every week, switch to a bi-weekly schedule. Be sure not to cut the grass too short, cutting it short can damage your lawn and impact spring growth. In colder climates, shorter grass is the key. Grass in cooler areas has to regrow in spring and cutting it short during the winter months helps keep it from being matted down and inhibits new growth. If you are concerned about length and how many times to cut your grass as you prepare for winter, your local landscape firms can provide winterizing services to ensure a healthy lawn in spring.

Fall months are a great time to over-seed your yard. This is basically applying grass seeds over the existing turf. You will want to make sure you do this before the temperatures get too cold. The ideal temperatures for seed growth are between 60 and 70 degrees. Just like with mowing your grass, what seeds to use on your lawn and when to apply will vary depending on where you live. In colder areas, overseeding is used to help prevent weeds so waiting until late autumn is not optimal. Seeds need time to establish roots in order to prevent weeds from filling in those thinner areas of your lawn. Northern areas should over-seed in early fall. In warmer areas, overseeding with cooler season grasses helps keep your lawn looking green all year long. By overseeding with cooler season grasses, when your warm-season grasses are dying out or going dormant the other varieties are ready to take over.

Not to be overlooked during this process are your trees and shrubs. Make sure you are pruning and cutting back trees and shrubs. Fall is the perfect time to do this. Once spring arrives, your yard will be starved for sunlight. Removing those overgrown limbs will allow complete exposure to the warm spring sun your lawn has been missing.

All of these steps outlined above are important to the upkeep and maintenance of your lawn and getting it ready for the winter months. However, one of the most important things you can do to ensure your lawn is lawn of the month come spring is to make sure you rake the leaves and keep them raked throughout the season. Nothing is harder on a lawn than a thick carpet of wet leaves. If these are not removed it can leave you with a dirt patch to deal with come spring. Raked leaves also serve as a great compost, so be sure to rake them up and save them for later. If you are lucky enough to have a small amount of leaves accumulated, consider mowing them instead of raking, this will provide a thin compost layer over your grass providing nutrients for the winter months.

Caring for and preparing your lawn and garden for the winter is not a step you want to forget. While most people are more concerned with the upkeep during the warm growing season, it is also important to make sure your lawn is prepared for the winter months. Following these simple tasks outlined will help to ensure that your lawn is ready to thrive come spring.

The post Tips For Winterizing Your Lawn appeared first on Koshka.

Understand What It Entails

Commercial construction is the development process for buildings constructed for the public and private sectors. These properties can be used for different purposes from retail spaces to highrises for selling or leasing. Moreover, the companies that undertake such projects are referred to as ‘contractors’ or ‘general contractors.’

Some examples of commercial construction projects include:

• Factories and warehouses
• Institutional buildings
• Shopping malls
• Medical facilities
• Restaurants
• Retail stores
• Sports facilities
• Corporate high-rise

Initial Planning

Pre-construction planning is the first step towards the successful completion of any small-scale or large-scale commercial development projects. If this construction phase is skipped over in favor of initializing the building and designing process without proper planning, you’ll likely get stuck afterward because of a lack of solid foundation and laid-out plans. The initial planning stage for commercial construction constitutes basic jobs, like choosing the perfect site after doing detailed research. While some industry professionals know precisely what they require from their commercial project, it’s always wise to hire a company specializing in design-build services to streamline this process more efficiently.

The Design Phase

Coming up with the perfect schematic, an illustrative design or plan for a commercial development project is essential for three major reasons:

1. It lays out the architecture for your project, keeping the contractors well-informed and updated regarding how the construction process will be executed.
2. It allows you to iron out the project details with the client concerning the project’s scale, location, and structure before a full rendering is performed.
3. Implementing this step makes it easier for you to make a cost estimate and timeline based on the project’s scale and design complexity.

The design phase also includes the following crucial steps:

1. Construction Bidding – Each commercial construction project must pose a construction bid to determine its total cost based on the contract documents and schematic designs.
2. Programming – The architect usually handles the programming phase, and it helps you establish an idea of your project’s space, functional needs, and building flexibility.
3. Feasibility – The site requirements are also comprehended during the design phase. These include building orientation, site access, and utility connections.

Pre-Construction Stage

During the pre-construction phase, it is ensured that all the building permits have been officially acquired and the insurance requirements are being acknowledged. After that, the contractors are permitted to proceed with the list of materials sent out to commercial subcontractors and vendors for quotes. Moreover, a design-build services is conducted to establish whether any environmental hazards might complicate or delay the construction process. The soil is also tested to make certain the chosen site is suited for commercial construction purposes. Lastly, different roles and tasks are designated to separate team members during the pre-construction step. Such as:

• Project Manager – They act as a point person for the rest of the construction team so that the project can be executed without any mismanagement.
• Superintendent – They are responsible for on-site construction activities and maintaining schedules.
• Contract Administrator – They assist the project manager and the superintendent with the contract details.
• Field Engineer – They investigate the construction site to determine whether any steps need to be taken before initializing the construction process.

Procurement

All the materials and essentials needed for the construction project are purchased during the procurement phase. An agreement is signed between the owner and seller, called the ‘purchase order.’ This contract establishes that the products purchased for the commercial construction meet the required specifications, both quality-wise and price-wise. Hiring professional contractors for this purpose can benefit you even further, as they specialize in managing the procurement phase proficiently.

The Construction Phase

The construction process for commercial development begins with a meeting organized by the superintendent. This meeting’s aim is to finalize decisions regarding specifics of getting the construction phase coordinated with all parties involved including on site logistics as well from storage units, site access, work hours, and quality control. Once a plan is developed, the construction process is initiated with the established ground rules in place. The construction phase continues until the construction requirements are met and finalized according to the plans and agreed upon scope of work and approval is obtained from all parties involved including property owner and project manager.

Post-Construction

Lastly, a few steps need to be taken before anyone can officially move into the building, even after completing the construction process. This stage is referred to as ‘post-construction.’ This development phase includes finalizing the project punch list, replacing the broken light fixtures, painting or repainting walls, installing equipment and furnishings, and making sure the electricity and water lines are working adequately. Once all these requirements are met, and it is made sure that the architecture is 100% secure for commercial use, the architect issues the certificate of completion. This step is followed by a thorough inspection from the building officials, declaring the end of the project. These are the primary steps carried out by commercial construction companies for successful project completion. Following these steps help projects go from pre to post construction with as minimal issues as possible.

The post The 7-Step Guide to Commercial Construction appeared first on Koshka.

This article covers corporate and office attire. For those who work in construction and outdoor trades such as landscaping, pest control, and even window washing, we’ll give you sound wardrobing advice in our next update. We’ll address your specific needs relative to fit, fabric, environment, and audience. Next time!

The concept of ‘dressing for success‘ is far from new. Yet many office workers do not know how to begin. Just like your career, start at the bottom and work up. Shoes, women should stick to low heels in neutral colors. Men, two pairs, one black, one brown. One laced, one slip-on. Your choice. Women can get more variation from separates- that means skirts, pants, blouses, and tops. If dresses and jackets are your preference, know that your outfits will be more limited.

As for fabrics, knits are more wrinkle-resistant, which is something to consider if you commute by bus or rail. Poly blends wear well; sadly, moths like to eat wool and silk so limit items in these fibers. Banish acrylic. It is a cheap fiber that does not wear well. Hint: bigger ticket items such as rain and winter coats should be in neutrals. Add pops of color with scarves, gloves, a handbag, and footwear. For men, different color shirts, and ties, even pocket scarves can vary your workday wardrobe. As for color- select two to four colors and only buy those colors. This way you can pull an outfit together quickly as everything will ‘go’ with everything else. Here’s a quick rundown:

Women

Skirts: 4-5 options in the pencil style or modified a-line. Pencil skirts say “I mean business”. Keep the boho looks for when you’re home, not to make an office appearance even on casual Friday.

Pants: 2-3 pairs of dress pants. Cuffs to fall at the midway point of shoes. Buy neutral colors.

Dresses: 2-3 per season. Sleeveless or ¾ sleeve sheaths either below knee or midi-length can be paired with jackets, blazers, or a cascading cardigan. Solids offer more styling options than prints, while knits are easier to keep fresh and wrinkle-free.

Tops/Sweaters: 3-5 tops including tunics. A white button-down, wrinkle-free, shirt is essential. Stick to solids, then consider only classic prints such as dots, pinstripes, and paisleys. Better to err on the side of conservative than to appear too gaudy. Remember you’re there to establish yourself through your work first. Creative industries such as ad agencies may have a more flexible dress code, but get the lay of the land first.

Jackets: 2-3 Fitted suit jackets and a blazer. One must be black. Avoid too trendy wide lapels, etc. These choices can span three seasons and are classic.

Coats: A long coat, a car coat, and a raincoat. Consider a ‘winter’ coat with a zip-out liner to serve double duty as a raincoat when it’s warmer. Again, select a balmacaan or classic trench. Here’s lookin’ at you kid!

Handbag: Totes or leather designer backpacks will hold everything you need including your mobile devices with ease.

Hats: Not currently popular and could obscure vision on crowded sidewalks. For winter, consider ski headbands and wrapped earmuffs with Bluetooth compatibility.

Men

Suits: In a traditional office, there’s no getting around it. Men need suits in navy, black, and gray. No, resist the urge to mix and match. Wear gray trousers with a matching jacket…etc.

Fitted sport jacket and or blazer: Ideal for business events. It can be worn with suit pants or designer chinos as required.

Jeans: 1-2 pairs. Dark denim, the length is slightly longer than suit pants. No rips, tears, fading, or bleach, please. Ideal for creative environments and casual Fridays.

Shirts: 5 minimum. Colors should range from white through pastel blue to black if in creative. Opt for wrinkle-free if you do not send yours out to the cleaners.

Sweaters and Tops: Have 3-5 options. Opt for designer label polos. As for sweaters, if you loved a good shetland in college, you’ll love owning the same style in cashmere.

Ties and Pocket Squares: 3-4 ties, 2-3 squares. Adds polish and professionalism to your appearance. For ties, buy rep silk stripes and solids in neutrals to match your suits- navy and gray. Dots and discreet paisleys are also classic options. If you wear a pocket square wear a solid color tie to avoid a clash of patterns.

Brands

Get to know these icons and see which is the best fit for your work environment: Burberry, Coach, Jones New York, Michael Kors, Talbots, Ralph Lauren, Florsheim, J. Crew, Kate Spade, Tory Burch, Hugo Boss, Dooney & Bourke, Nicole Miller, Stuart Weitzman, and Vince Camuto.

TIP: Shop where the store offers in-house tailoring, or find one near you. No point in wearing ill-fitting investment clothing.

If you are still paying off grad-school, balancing car loans, Johnny’s braces, and a mortgage, there’s no need to despair. You can still have a great working wardrobe. There are several options. Online resale stores such as ThredUp carefully curate submissions and accept only the cream which is then competitively priced. Example: this author just scored a $1,500 Fleurette coat new with tags for only $88! That is not the norm, but there are true bargains to be had as well as solid quality for your spend. There are also numerous online businesses that offer style quizzes, send apparel based upon your answers- just pay for what you select, and return the rest.

One caveat: building your new corporate image is not an excuse for maxing out your credit cards. It is not necessary to buy a Rolex, those Manolos, a Hermes bag, or Louis Vuitton briefcase. Your new position is not a dress rehearsal. You’re expected to shine straight out of the elevator and have been prepping your day on your laptop on your commute. Overdoing it with extravagant daywear calls undesirable attention to your appearance instead of your work ethic. Besides, dressing better than your bosses makes your decisions questionable and you expendable. Congrats on your new position, now get shopping!

The post How to Build a Wardrobe that Works appeared first on Koshka.

Position Your Most Popular Items in the Back of the Store

You may have heard this one before, but either way it’s too important not to mention. By placing your most popular items (some of which people will come to your store for), you’re forcing customers to walk through your store TWICE. Going to the front and the back again. By doing this, you’re opening the door of possibilities for customers to see something they like and possibly buying something they might not have been planning on. Just think about it, the more items they see, the more likely they are to buy something.

Place Smaller Items Near the Cashiers

Another common, yet super important tip to implement. Place some of your smaller, more accessory-based inventory towards the front of your store, or wherever the cashiers are. This is where the lines form, meaning customers will have no choice but to see these items while they wait. The reason you should place small, accessory-based is because people are more likely to make impulsive decisions and the size makes them easy to store in their cart or hold in their hands. Think phone chargers, wallets, movies, stuff like that.

Offer Free Wifi

Everyone loves Wifi, especially when it’s free! Just have them enter their email address for access. When they sign into your Wifi, they feel more comfortable, therefore will stay longer and even better, you can send them email promotions.

Encourage Social Check-Ins

Any marketing professional will tell you word-of-mouth marketing is stronger than any ad campaign. This is because people trust their peers more than brands, so their endorsement will have more impact. Encouraging a social check-in (like on Facebook) is a great way to get immediate word-of-mouth exposure and set a reminder of your brand in place of your customers social media profile(s). Simply offer a discount in exchange for a check-in.

Utilize Customer Surveys

Want to get into the minds of your customers? You don’t have to hire that psychic down the street, you just have to ask your customers. Entice them to take surveys (maybe send them an email after letting them use your Wifi) and position the ask as a way to improve your customer experience. Offer them a coupon in exchange for an honest review.

Compiling enough surveys will give you a good idea as to what your customers are looking for and how you can improve their experience moving forward. And actually implementing these changes will tell your customers you’re actually listening, which will impress them and cause them to tell their friends leading to, you guessed it, word-of-mouth marketing.

Analyze (and Learn From) Foot Traffic Patterns

Just as digital marketers invest heavily in analyzing website traffic, you have to analyze foot traffic. Start by tracking what times of the year/month/week/day people are coming in and making observations. As an example, bar/restaurants use happy hour as a way to drive traffic during slower times of the day. You have to implement your own version of happy hour if you want to secure a steady stream of traffic.

Create a Customer Experience

You know what consumers look for? An experience, because that’s not something you can necessarily buy. That’s what large brands are selling, experiences. Creating a unique experience in your store will drastically increase the chances of customers buying more, coming back and telling their friends. Use compelling images on the walls and place your products strategically to transcend the traditional shopping experience.

Double Down on Loyalty Programs

Not everyone will take advantage of your free Wifi, so you should be investing heavily in your loyalty program. Offer exclusive offers in exchange for their email address, then provide special discounts and incentives for larger purchases.

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Back in the 1980s, the Public Broadcast Company offered a TV series that demonstrated how early inventions influenced future innovations which prompted even further technological development through the ages to the present day and beyond. “Connections” ‘, hosted by British scientist Dr. James Burke, explained in layman’s terms how great minds have influenced each other and thereby improved all our lives. Mindful of Burke’s hypothesis, here are the emerging technologies for the coming decade that will support existing initiatives to improve the ways business is conducted as well as how we continue to live.

INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT): The first time this author heard this expression was 15 years ago in an advice column from a financial publishing guru. The article heralded IoT as the investment possibility of the future and advised that one should get on board before the lemmings. But what is it? The Internet of Things can be loosely defined as the relationship and reliance upon computers and similar devices, such as digital machines, objects, animals or people featuring unique identifiers. These identifiers can be used to transfer data over a network without the need for human intervention. When we tell you that Smart devices are common examples, you’ll immediately understand where we have come from, although it may not be clear where IoT will be taking us next. Today IoT is influencing the future of people, places, things, and businesses, including, would you believe, -Marketing?

5G (6G/7G/8G): For most of us, 5G simply means a visit to their cell phones carrier’s website or brick and mortar for a Smart Phone upgrade. In reality, 5G networks facilitate moving, manipulating, and analyzing data via WiFi. For businesses, it will level the playing field to enable emerging markets to participate in the same arenas as more mature enterprises. For investors, it is easy to understand that the race goes to the swift. This means those who back developers who offer solutions to specific industries, as well as those companies, will also profit. The potential boost offered to the global economy by responsible and considered 5G development is said to be staggering.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)/ VIRTUAL REALITY (VR)/AUGMENTED REALITY (AR): While different by definition and scope, it is expected over the next decade that these three disciplines will interact and interrelate to create business solutions. Of these, AI is the best known and is already part of our daily lives via interactive websites and bots. This trend will continue. Currently, AI is frequently behind the technology that increases data security. Over time it is expected to enhance the speed with which decision-makers can facilitate change as well as to further enhance its original purpose (back in the 1980s) to train employees virtually. For many years Fortune 100 companies have invested in AI solutions as a means to increase staff efficiency and to increase output/productivity while decreasing operating costs. Going forward, AR and VR which offer a combination of mixed reality and sensory technology, are being incorporated as team players to produce optimal business outcomes.

ROBOTICS/DRONES: From the first time we saw images of automobiles advancing on an automated assembly line, to the windowless mega warehouses that dot many an interstate, even to the disc-shaped vacuums no Millennial household wants to be without, robotics have held our interest and sparked our imaginations. Development and integration with drone technology now enable automation without geographic restrictions. The possibilities are endless: future services alone could include postal and package deliveries from local depots or even around the globe.

BIOMETRICS/3D PRINTING: Several years ago, this author remembers inadvertently witnessing a 3D printer demonstration with the awe and wonder of a child. Its possibilities seemed endless. Currently, this technology offers a low-cost solution for manufacturers of complex parts including medical devices. From mobile devices to home security systems, Biometrics is quickly becoming the chief means to verify identity. Biometric face, fingerprint, and retina scans combined with 3D Printing will facilitate forensics, as well as offer more secure encryption options.

BLOCKCHAIN: Overhyped from the get-go, blockchain is still a mystery to most consumers and many investors. Simply put “block” = the digital information that is stored in the “chain” = public database. An example most of us can relate to is the marked change in delivery speed for our online purchases over the past few years. Blockchain technology says, “You’re welcome!” Blockchain also utilizes Bitcoin to facilitate and provide transactional security and is well-regarded in the banking and financial sector. Hype notwithstanding, blockchain’s future looks bright- and lucrative.

SERVERLESS COMPUTING: This advance enables firms to create a NoOps IT environment- one that is automated and abstracted from its basic infrastructure. The goal is to reduce operational expenses in favor of more significant core business value-adds. As with all new technology aimed to move data, encryption and security will prove to be as important as the technology itself.

Today’s technology is the realization of yesterday’s dreams. So while some of the innovations reported above may seem to owe more to Buck Rogers than reality, each does exist and all are in successive generation status. It will be interesting to observe how not only how each continues to evolve but also synergizes with future technologies as these emerge. We’ll all just have to stay tuned!

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Medicare was legislated in 1966 and originally was part of the Social Security Administration. Today it falls under the aegis of the newly created Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. To qualify for Medicare, one has to be eligible to receive Social Security, and to qualify for Social Security, one has to have worked for a specified number of contiguous pay periods. (Yes, you have been paying into the Medicare system with every paycheck.)

It is a mistake to think, however, that over the age of 65 one receives free medical care in the U.S. Nope. Not a bit of it. The good news is that Medicare covers roughly half the healthcare expenses of those enrolled in the program. The not so good news is that what the program does not cover must be picked up by the patient and a third-party insurance provider. That’s why Medicare is divided into four parts, A-D. The biggest, Part A, covers hospital surgeries, stays, and related expenses such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. While technically, it is free, the catch is, that it covers about 80% of the services offered. The overage must be paid by the patient.

This fact leads to great confusion. What do parts B-D do and who issues policies for same?

Here is a brief rundown:

Medicare Part B:
This covers outpatient services and some inpatient services depending on the provider. It also covers outpatient hospital charges, office visits, and most prescription drugs that are administered by a medical practitioner (i.e. inoculations).

Medicare Part C:
Known as Managed Medicare, this health insurance provider coverage combines Parts A and B, and some Part D benefits, but with an annual out-of-pocket spend limit which standard A and B do not have. And (eyes crossed yet?) beneficiaries must enroll in Parts A and B prior to signing up for Part C.

Okay. Your 65th rolled around and just before or after you paid a visit to the appropriate government office and were thoroughly confused by what the nice civil servant (about 30 years too young to qualify for Medicare) told you. What are your options to help you decide what will and will not work for you? And incidentally, how are you going to pay for all this?

Here are the five top sources I found to assist with making your all-important Medicare decisions:

YouTube Videos: there are a wealth of online videos flacked by persons who are way too young to have to know about these programs or have used them themselves. They range from snooze-inducing to highly informative. Just keep listening, and when you have found a series that you like, that also answers your questions, be sure to view it at least 3 times and take notes. The information can be very easy to misinterpret.

Social Security Office: Where you go to learn more varies by state. In mine, one reports to the Social Security Administration office nearest to their home. My well-intentioned, representative could only tell me what he knew, boilerplate, and could not field any of my questions. Happily, I was continuing to work and did not have to make a decision at that time. You might have more luck.

Government Agency Websites: As a writer myself, I personally found some of the site content contradictory and ambiguous. And there was no one to reach out to if I had a question. Give this one a pass unless a state of confusion is where you like to reside.

Friends/neighbors: If you are lucky, someone who has gone before you down this rabbit hole will remember their experience and share it with you. It might also cause even more confusion as no two citizens, it would appear, have the same health requirements. One great piece of advice: find a Debbie. My friend Debbie has assisted some of her older friends by calling the Social Security Administration on their behalf, enduring the extremely long wait period for a live response, and then running down her list of requests and questions. Bonus: many who cover the SSA phone lines are older workers themselves, and offer great advice from personal experience!

Online Benefits Organizations: On my long fact-finding journey I have located (via YouTube videos) organizations that are in fact, insurers or insurance brokers themselves. These organizations are dedicated to assisting Medicare enrollees to determine which options and providers are right for their individual needs. A bonus is that they additionally serve as Medicare advocates should a problem arise now or in the future. Some are fee-driven, others are subsidized by health insurance providers.

AND A BONUS:

Another place to find helpful, if not self-promotional information is from health insurance providers websites. Most offer useful questionnaires that can get you thinking about what your coverage requirements might be to make an educated decision regarding your supplemental Medicare coverage options.

While we’re at it, let’s not confuse Medicare with Medicaid. Medicaid is solely to assist those living at or below the poverty level to receive quality health care. It pays for doctor visits, surgeries and hospitalization, long-term and custodial care expenses, and more. It is funded by the federal government but administered at the state level. There are no out of pocket expenses for its enrollees or their family members. Providers are limited, but the program makes healthcare available to the disadvantaged.

The U.S. is a great country and wants to ensure the continued good health of its citizens over age 65. With a little research and an understanding of our current health needs, it should be fairly easy to determine the best insurance policy for now, knowing that within the year, updates or changes can be made. We hope this article has been informative and has provided the guidance you need. To your continued good health!

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Historically, home ownership has been the most lucrative way to accrue a passive income or at least a sound investment. For decades, one could purchase a home, enjoy and maintain it, then sell it within a few years for a major profit. Due to the economic downturn of 2008, that well-travel route vanished over the last few years. Today many home sellers are finding that their home has a negative equity. That is it is worth less now than what they paid for it 15 years ago including any updates they may have made in the interim. Another hurdle to home ownership is money.

Take the example of Silicon Valley. Thirty-five years ago it did not exist. Slowly this region, that includes San Francisco and the surrounding area, attracted more high-tech and internet companies such as Microsoft and Google. Each business has their percentage of high-salaried workers, but these enterprises are kept humming by office staff who do not command six-figure salaries. Yet the need for programmers, software developers, and other professionals drove houses prices out of reach for the majority of workers.

This led to lengthy commutes for some office staffers, while others elected to live in RVs, constantly moving within the city limits to avoid being fined. San Francisco officials’ recent crackdown on where RVs could park overnight led to Google’s taking charge of the problem and offering a solution: provide affordable housing for their workers and encourage other tech and internet businesses to do the same.

While San Francisco enjoys a high standard of living, almost 30% of its citizens are working poor. That’s because even with a salary in excess of 6-figures, one cannot afford Bay-area housing costs. In fact, a recent study revealed that San Francisco has the third largest homeless population in the United States. Here’s the kicker: of these most are college-educated, skilled labor who are employed full-time. So while a lack of affordable housing is not exclusive to the West Coast, Google set about to find a solution. Here’s what this industry giant plans to do:

Build Housing Not Offices

Over the next decade, almost a billion dollars of Google-owned land, currently earmarked for office and commercial expansion, will be repurposed instead to provide residential housing. It is expected that this initiative will yield about 15,000 residences at all income levels. It is not clear, however, if this housing is exclusively for Google employees, or the general population. Next, another $250,000 million will be invested in developing some 5,000 affordable housing units. Again, for whose benefit has not been made apparent.

What Google is proposing to do is nothing new; as economic growth moved westward in the 19th century, industrialists in mining and coal operations in particular created entire towns with housing for their workers and their families. The workers lived rent-free but were paid in scrip that could be used only at Company-run stores thereby ensuring their corporate loyalty: they simply had nowhere else to go. Google’s present day attempts to alleviate the housing shortage in their region is honorable, as well as duplicatable.

Duplication is Google’s point. They are alleviating some of the housing crunch in the region and hopefully setting the precedent as well as providing an incentive for other industry giants to follow. This way, not only will housing be available to all, but also meaningful employment. Google has created a blueprint that can be followed elsewhere in the nation to remediate the nationwide housing shortage as well as to create and sustain relevant employment opportunities.

Across the board this concept is a win-win. When families find meaningful work and affordable housing, the demand for schools, household goods, shopping, dining, hospitals and medical practices, and entertainment venues, is created. The need for https://www.6pm.com/clothing, http://big5sportinggoods.com/, groceries, vitamin and nutrition shops, computers, TVs, cellphones, services such as dry cleaning and landscaping, fitness and gyms, swimming pools, movie theaters, cars, trucks and auto parts, gas stations, construction materials, etc. etc. increases also. In short, the economy improves overall. If Google’s concept works, then over the next couple decades the U.S. could experience an unprecedented yet sustainable economic boom. And it all started by recognizing a need to treat people right…

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