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Maintenance Planning 101
Making the Best of Your Time and ResourcesCongratulations! You’re the new maintenance manager of Megamonolith Corporation. Although you’re exited about the position, you realize you have your work cut out for you. Megamonolith recently bought out another company, and you’re assigned to the site. During your first six months, you conduct a facilities audit and discover that the prior maintenance program consisted only of breakdown repairs. (For information about facility audits, please refer to my white paper “The Facilities Audit” available through my website at www.fps-fm.com.)One of the first things you need to do is establish a work coordination and management program that helps you and your staff identify, prioritize, plan, and track corrective actions. The same process must be used by everyone involved in maintenance, and at every location. How can you do this?The system we propose provides these important benefits:1.Easy retrieval and dissemination of information.2.Ensures immediate response for emergencies and safety related issues.3.Avoids wasted time.4.Provides easy to follow guidelines and standards.5.Uses off the shelf software.6.Establishes procedures.7.Highly

Take the time to research suppliers and see which offers the best mix of price, quality, quantity, and service; subsequently, remember that the larger quantity you can afford, the better pricing you will get. There are also other services out there besides World Wide Brands and SaleHoo. Doba is a popular dropshipping company, but I feel that their prices are a bit too high for my definition of wholesale; however they do have some good deals hidden throughout their site.

Overseas Suppliers and Buying Direct from Manufacturer:

If you have been in business for a while or are ready to move up to the next level of product sourcing, then it is beneficial to begin sourcing your products directly from the big manufacturers overseas. There are two big sites that you will want to use when sourcing products overseas (primarily from China), Globalsources.com and Alibaba.com. These are the two main directories for overseas suppliers and trade leads. Keep in mind that sometimes you can find domestic suppliers from these sites, but your best deals will be from China. These suppliers are the real deal. Some of these companies even supply the big name brands with OEM products (original equipment manufacturer). The fact is that the TV you have might have a big brand name on it, but the truth is most of these brands do not manufacture the TV (or many other ele

Mobile Oil Change Business for the West Virginia Market
Is a state-wide Mobile Oil Change Business viable for the West Virginia Market? Recently we were asked to consult an upstart entrepreneur interested in the mobile oil changing industry sub-sector and looking to target his state of West Virginia. Are there any such businesses now like this in the Great State of West Virginia?There are folks engaged in the mobile oil change business doing this now in West Virginia and yet there are only a few decent markets there worthy of a large enough population to make it viable. That is to say make the economies of scale work for the business. One concept would be to concentrate on a different area or city each day and schedule accounts to fit that.Of course consider too that most real West Virginians are quite capable of changing their own oil or have family that are part of that DIY (Do It Yourself) crowd or market segment. Indeed, I have personally seen units in South Charleston, Huntington and Elkins and believe there are already folks providing services in Beckley, Morgantown, Wheeling and Parkersburg. I am sure there are folks in Wheeling due to the tri-state area.Since WV is so spread out between populated areas, your cost to deliver mobile services due to fuel costs are a littl

Finding the right products to sell at the right prices can be the most difficult part of starting an online business. Whether you have an online e-commerce website, or are a seller on EBay, it can be difficult to even decide where to start sourcing your products. The problem is there are many companies out there who will sell you products at “wholesale prices” but you will come to find very quickly that 99% of these companies are not real wholesalers, and the fact is you could go on eBay or search the internet right now and buy the products you want for less from a retailer than these so called wholesalers. I have spent countless hours searching for wholesalers over the internet, and when I say countless I mean well over 100 hours, and that is no exaggeration.

In order to save you time and countless headaches, here is a list of things to avoid when sourcing products:

DO NOT use search engines to find wholesalers. Real wholesalers are not that easy to find, I know this from plenty of experience. You will waste much of your time searching for wholesalers on search engines only to find that even products that seem to be offered at low prices aren’t going to make you much, if any, money.

DO NOT buy wholesale lists off eBay or e-books claiming to have the ultimate wholesale lists. These aren’t necessarily scams in the traditional sense. You will get a large list of companies, but typically none of them will offer anything close to wholesale, and even worse, you’ll notice some of them are retail stores. So save your money, I have spent hundreds of dollars on these lists and I guarantee you that you will have nothing to show for that money except empty pockets.

DO NOT buy from any companies that use Western Union or Money Gram or any kind of untraceable, unsecured wire transfers of that sort, especially if they are from Western European countries such as Romania or the Ukraine. These sellers will typically offer products at unbelievable prices and they can do that because they aren’t really selling you anything, they are stealing your money and disappearing. You will typically run into these on larger, global directories of suppliers so be careful. Only use non secured methods of payment if you have done prior business with the company, someone you know very well has done business with them, or they are an internationally recognized company.

DO NOT Expect to buy one or two products at a time, that’s called retail sales, wholesalers don’t want to waste their time selling to a consumer, they want to sell to businesses and if you are only buying one or two products, they will just think you’re a consumer trying to get products for yourself at wholesale to save a couple dollars. You will never get even close to a wholesale price doing that. Some companies will require thousands of dollars or items per purchase while there are others that will work with smaller businesses with orders under $500.

By following the above “Do Nots”, you can save a lot of time by not wasting it on methods that do not work and save you from an abundance of headaches down the road. So where should you be looking? There are three major categories that I believe are the best sources for finding your products. These involve using REAL wholesale directories, overseas suppliers, and buying direct from the manufacturer.

Real Wholesale Directories:

There are a myriad of wholesale directories out there, some are free, some have a monthly fee, some have a one time fee, and some have a mixture of both. The free directories are usually useless and will basically lead you to the same suppliers the search engines will. Most wholesalers with readily available websites that display their up front are usually not real wholesalers, and you will see that with the prices they display. Real wholesalers do not have websites or they do not have their prices listed for the public to see. You will either need to contact them via email or phone and ask for a price list or fill out an application to become a customer (you will also typically need a resellers license). The problem is, even these wholesalers are extremely hard to find, and that is why it’s worth the little bit of money to purchase a membership to a wholesale directory.

Do not “subscribe” to a wholesale directory; look for services with a one time charge. There are two very popular wholesale directories on the internet right now. One is World Wide Brands. World Wide Brands connects you to literally thousands of pre-screened, pre-qualified wholesalers that are willing to work with smaller quantity purchases. They will help point you in the right direction and save you time you will not have to sift through “fake” wholesalers. Yes there are some suppliers that do not offer the best prices, and that is to be expected. You will still have to do a little searching, but by using their services you have a much better chance of finding the supplier that’s right for you. Also their new one source tool is pretty impressive and provides you with a wealth of information on product demand and pricing.

Another site to use as a wholesale directory is SaleHoo. They also have an extensive list of wholesalers at your disposal.

Both of these sites have a one time fee which means once you’re a member, you’re a member forever. Keep in mind that just because you join these websites does not mean you will be buying products at the price you want right away. Take the time to research suppliers and see which offers the best mix of price, quality, quantity, and service; subsequently, remember that the larger quantity you can afford, the better pricing you will get. There are also other services out there besides World Wide Brands and SaleHoo. Doba is a popular dropshipping company, but I feel that their prices are a bit too high for my definition of wholesale; however they do have some good deals hidden throughout their site.

Overseas Suppliers and Buying Direct from Manufacturer:

Portable Toilet Hire Explained Simply
Hiring portable toilets for a construction site, an event, a concert, party or large gathering can be confusing process given that you could hire a self contained chemical toilet, chemical disabled toilet, portable mains connect toilet, disabled toilet with baby changing facilities or urinal units.This article aims to explain some of the differences between the various types and what you should look for in terms of accreditations to ensure that you have peace of mind.Most are self contained chemical toilets with either cold water handwash, warm water handwash or hot water handwash. Warm and hot water handwash normally require mains electricity whereas cold water handwash does not.Then there is the question of how many you will need. As a general rule of thumb, if alcoholic beverages are served or there is a large female attendance, increase the number of units by 13%.Disabled toilet and baby change units allow freedom for the disabled without struggling in a confined space and freedom for mother, baby and buggy to enter and use baby changing facilities in privacy.To ensure peace of mind, consider an organisation that has the following accreditations:Portable Sanitation Europe (PSE) to ensure compli

will get a large list of companies, but typically none of them will offer anything close to wholesale, and even worse, you’ll notice some of them are retail stores. So save your money, I have spent hundreds of dollars on these lists and I guarantee you that you will have nothing to show for that money except empty pockets.

Real Wholesale Directories:

Another site to use as a wholesale directory is SaleHoo. They also have an extensive list of wholesalers at your disposal.

Overseas Suppliers and Buying Direct from Manufacturer:

Work At Home Based Business – My Experience
I have four month of an experience at work at home based business opportunity and would like to share it here. It is not a talk of me, but of my experience, maybe can help new beginners.This experience is face to face with one thing: I am not from an English country and the English language is not used any day here. It has a specific useful at English schools, work, airport, hotels. There is no use day after day into household.Guess what: my work at home based business is in English.The second problem, that I learned to call it by a challenger, is my no experience at HTML language, even Internet marketing four months ago. I used to navigate at Internet, read email, open web sites and no more.Yes, I know you think I am unreasonable. But see it is always been my dream to have financial independence. It is not likely doing what I used to do. And my dream is too to reach a life style that Internet marketing offers as opportunity.But those last four months were great, although to discover that it would not bring enough income as I used to think. Why? I was a newbie and have just started. It is important to pay attention. There are no serious businesses fast enough that allow you to make a lot of money at the firs

ill never get even close to a wholesale price doing that. Some companies will require thousands of dollars or items per purchase while there are others that will work with smaller businesses with orders under $500.

Real Wholesale Directories:

Another site to use as a wholesale directory is SaleHoo. They also have an extensive list of wholesalers at your disposal.

Overseas Suppliers and Buying Direct from Manufacturer:

Oh, Behave -- 10 Tips to Resolve Employee Conflicts
Put many different people together in one place, day after day after day, and conflicts are bound to happen. Most people work them out on their own, but what happens when the conflict doesn't go away and threatens the productivity of your entire staff or team?We've all seen it – Mary isn't speaking to Susan; Ted and Tom can't be put on the same project; Bill goes behind Karen's back and "forgets" to include her in project discussions. Some days, it's like working in a kindergarten. As the manager, what is your role in resolving workplace conflicts?The knee-jerk response of most managers is to overlook the conflict, in the hopes that it will go away. After all, we think, these people are adults; I shouldn't have to tell them how to behave.Unfortunately, left alone, a workplace conflict can fester and grow out of proportion until it takes on a life of its own and all-out war is declared. Other employees take sides and the conflict becomes more important that getting the job done.Here are some tips to control potentially damaging conflicts before they escalate.1. Set standards. Make sure you have a written set of standards for workplace behavior and conduct. That way, employees know what's expected of them righ

. The problem is, even these wholesalers are extremely hard to find, and that is why it’s worth the little bit of money to purchase a membership to a wholesale directory.

Another site to use as a wholesale directory is SaleHoo. They also have an extensive list of wholesalers at your disposal.

Overseas Suppliers and Buying Direct from Manufacturer:

Winning With Diversity - The Next Phase
*Diversity refers to the broad mix of people currently or soon to be a part of your organization. It exists whenever you encounter anyone who has a view of the world, or "paradigm", different from your own. **Managing diversity is a deliberate effort to create a work environment that allows these differences to contribute equally to the common goals of the organization.Managing diversity emerged as a key strategic issue in the1990's. Unfortunately, for some, it has also emerged as the latest new management fad. As such, there has been a lot a talk recently about the value of diversity training. After all, several companies took a pioneering approach to diversity and were among the first to "do something" to address the issue. Typically, the “something” they tended to latch onto was diversity awareness training. In fact, these companies are now in their second or third year of awareness training on diversity.Diversity training is certainly a necessary part of any diversity initiative, but it is not the only part. How often have you attended a really outstanding training session and have been really turned on by the experience, only to return to the workplace and face the same mess you left. What

Overseas Suppliers and Buying Direct from Manufacturer:

The problem is the quantities. Many of these companies will require you buy containers full (a container may hold thousands of products depending on the size of the product). Some have smaller minimum quantities, some have astronomically large quantities. Again you will have to do some searching here to find the best suppliers. Also be aware that these directories are where you may find scammers and fake companies waiting to take your money. Also note that most major Chinese distributors will use wire transfers, COD, Direct Lines of Credit and other payment methods you may not be familiar with or just simply haven’t really used. So do a little research on these payment methods before purchasing any products. In addition, don’t be afraid to negotiate with manufacturers and do not be intimidated by them. They sell billions of dollars worth of products a year but may be willing to sell smaller quantities if you present yourself in a sincere and confident manner and raise the prospect of frequent, future purchases.

Buying direct from the manufacturer is also an excellent way to source products simply because you are getting the product from the first place it appears, no middlemen, no multiple markups on the price, etc. Again, larger quantities are a must for this method of purchasing, but if you are willing to spend the money (remember you can start with larger quantities of affordable products and build your way up to high ticket items) then you can get the best deals of all. Many companies do offer direct sales even if it doesn’t seem like it. For example, Sony and Sceptre (LCD’s and such) both offer accounts for resellers, it just takes a little searching on their websites and/or emailing to find out how. Also use www.thomasnet.com if you are a manufacturing company, engineering company, etc. They will connect you with thousands of companies and distributors nationwide.

These three sourcing categories are the best way for you to find a steady source of wholesale priced products; however, you can also find low price products by purchasing from liquidators and closeout sales. These are also available on World Wide Brands and you can actually find them using search engines. Be warned however, some products could be damaged and you will not get warranties from the seller and typically all sales are final. Also, once these products are gone, they’re gone.

These three sources will be your best bet for finding products at REAL wholesale prices. In fact if you buy from an overseas supplier, you may be getting products below what wholesalers will sell them for. Just make sure do your research and learn as much as you can about the suppliers before you even engage in negotiations with the company. Also, make sure you follow the “Do Nots” of product sourcing to save you time and energy, and keep yourself safe from scammers. By following this advice you will be one step closer to finding the products you need. Good luck.

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Choosing the topic of your ezine is no light decision. Here are 3 hints to help get you going in the right direction.

If you are planning to exhibit in the next few years, be sure to familiarize yourself with the basics of trade shows. Getting good information can be invaluable in the months prior to your trade show to ensure that you are adequately prepared.

Here's a quick tip for anyone has found yourself annoyed by someone who is talking way too loud on their cell phone in public.

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