Monthly Archives: May 2018

Reduces Those Small Business Shipping Costs

Running any small business comes with a daily list of stresses and decisions. Without the well-developed network and infrastructure of bigger competitors, the little guys are left to go it alone. Something every business must contend with, big or small, no matter the industry, is shipping costs. A small business’s bottom line can be significantly affected by the simple act of shipping boxes. Your merchandise is your business, and getting it into the hands of paying customers, quickly and securely, is highly important to your success. In order to remove the stresses and burdens of shipping, it is vital that any business owner plan ahead and consider the following factors.

Organize Around Common Shipments
All the big shipping providers, the United States Post Office, FedEx, UPS, or DHL, retain the services of a small-business specialist, so make use of this important contact. The specialist can help you align their fees and service requirements with the shipping needs of your business, including modes of transport and timing of deliveries. Business owners that work closely with their shipping providers can save upwards of 40 percent on shipping fees, each year.

Clarify Customer Charge-Backs
With any business, big or small, sometimes the customer pays for shipping and sometimes the business fronts this cost. What is important is to formalize the shipping rules and make them readily available to customers and staff alike. If, for instance, your company pays standard shipping, but customers cover any expedited costs, make sure that customers are aware of, and agree to, this policy.

Put the Postage Meter to Work
Having a postage meter on hand is, of course, an added cost, but it is still estimated that leasing one of these machines, for as little as $20 a month, can save more than 20 percent each year in shipping costs. These easy-to-use machines, with a scale attached, eliminate over-paying for postage, and the hassle, time, and cost of regular trips to your shipping company’s offices.

Consolidate Where You Can
This is a common practice, particularly with smaller businesses, where companies that frequently ship amounts smaller than a full truckload, work with a freight consolidation service to combine shipments with those of other companies. The cheapest method is to have a full truckload of merchandise, but that can’t always be the case, so be sure to utilize this option when needed.

Keep Tabs on Your Carrier
This should be obvious, but it goes without saying, work with your carrier to make sure pickups, deliveries, customer service response times, online tracking, and deadlines are being met. When issues do arise, address them and don’t be afraid to shop around to competitors. Hand in hand with this, is to keep in contact with your customers and make sure they are receiving their shipments when and where the carriers say they are.

Conclusion
There’s no reason to make the running and operating of a small business any more stressful than it needs to be. Every business will need to ship and receive items at some point, so put a framework in place to make sure you are getting the best value for you money, and make shipping boxes one less stress on the list, and one more component in your success.

Tips For An Easier And More Efficient Move

Most people hate moving and will bribe friends to get some help. There are tips to make the process a little easier and much less stressful. It is easy to find cheap moving boxes or get them for free online and at clothing or grocery stores. This is also the time to throw out or donate any possessions that will not be used.

Planning ahead includes cleaning out the refrigerator to prevent a mess. Taking pictures of electronics and the television’s back makes it easy to remember where all the cords plug in. This saves so much time. Garbage bags can be used to transport hanging clothes with a label to identify the owner.

Toiletries should be packed in a box for the first night as well as clothing, pajamas and anything needed for the following morning. This may include a coffee maker, hair dryer, silverware or dishes. Foam disposable plates are ideal for safely packing plates. Simply place one between each plate prior to packing them. Remember to pack some comfort food for the trip.

Plastic wrap will keep dresser drawers closed while the truck is moving and prevent items from falling out of their trays. The contents can remain right in the drawers. Get some wine cases from a grocery store, winery or bar. These are great for organizing glasses. Simply stuff them with newspaper for protection. Keep items from each room separated for easier unpacking. A basket or cheap moving boxes can be filled with packing supplies such as tape and scissors to make packing easier.

Jewelry is easily transported using egg cartons. Nothing will fall out once they are taped shut. Loose bracelets and necklaces will pack well in toilet paper rolls. Place one end through the roll then fasten the piece closed. The bolts and screws for any dismantled furniture must be kept organized. Labeled plastic bags make certain they are organized and it is apparent which pieces go where. Cutting triangular shaped holes on both sides of the heavy boxes will provide handles so they can be lifted much easier.

Seasonal items can be moved using plastic bins then simply placed in a basement or closet without the need to unpack. Soft items from the home make nice packaging materials. They can be used to pack other items efficiently and safely. This includes sheets, towels, socks and anything cushy or soft. Black and white labels are harder to distinguish when unpacking. Colorful labels can be color coded to keep track of the boxes easier.

People go in and out of the door to their home a lot when loading the van or truck with boxes. Wrapping a rubber band around the doorknob and stretching it around to the other knob is a good way to keep the door open. This will also prevent the door from closing accidently. This means if the door is not unlocked everyone will still be able to get back inside.

All liquids such as dish washing liquid and cleaning supplies should be kept separate from everything else in plastic bins. Even if something should spill or fall it will not soak through anything else. There are visual guides available online for packing a moving vehicle. It is important to note this advice may differ for a truck or a van.

Simple Storage Projects with Repurposed Cardboard Boxes

In “Easy Storage Projects with Up-cycled Cardboard Boxes”, Kathy Woodard, explains how to repurpose ordinary cardboard boxes into beautiful eco-friendly storage bins. Do it yourself storage projects are unbelievably simple, gentle on the bank account and are easily personalized. Now,go retrieve your cardboard boxes from the recycling bin so we can get started. Not sure where to begin? Check out the DIY storage tutorial blogs below for step by step instructions or decorative inspiration.Ready, set, let’s go!

I Heart Organizing
Don’t you just love attractive storage bins? Jen, the BHG Best Blog winner, up-cycled basic shipping boxes into one of a kind, appealing DIY fabric bins! Her site includes eons of pictures for this project, and lots of other wonderful DIY hacks.

Thrifty Chic
Are you going through diaper boxes faster than recycling can pick them up? And do you have old sweaters? Wonderful! Alicia to the rescue! She knows her way around a cardboard box, and how to create adorable one hundred percent up-cycled DIY storage bin projects from beginning to end! Her site is a must see!

Bless’er House
Love the look of weathered wood? Lauren shows you have to achieve the weathered wood look without the weathered wood price. Her easy DIY weathered wood storage box is made from a repurposed diaper box. How awesome is that?

Stonybrook House
Lori is making magic happen with a little bit of attractive contact paper and cereal boxes. Yes cereal boxes! This DIY desk organizer project will cost you less than a dollar to make!

Noodlehead
Mail that is not opened right away is often tossed into a drawer and forgotten. Anna’s mail organizer tutorial is easy to follow. You will need cereal boxes, fabric, craft items and you are on the way!

Small Fry & Co
Heather is incredibly brilliant! She refurbished Costco style cardboard boxes into hanging file boxes. Visit her site for step by step directions and photos!

Curb to Refurb
Carrie repurposes cheese cardboard containers into impressive faux galvanized metal boxes. She shares excellent pointers on her site how to achieve this look on other items also. If you are a fan of the industrial look, this site is for you!

In My Own Style
Diane illustrates how to make an attractive scrapbook paper organizer or office organizer from cardboard boxes. Her project is simple, inexpensive and quick!

Iron & Twine
This DIY belt strap bin is perfect to put on display in your home. Michelle used cardboard and items from the thrift store to achieve this look. Wow! Pretty, practical, functional and cheap. This project is a win win!

Wanessa Carolina Creations via Catch My Party
So you are not the craftiest person. That’s alright. These DIY storage boxes come with complimentary printable and editable labels!

Make It, Love It
Last but certainly not least, Ashley shows us how to make covered cardboard storage boxes extra stable and sturdy! This project is perfect to organize the office, craft room or the kid’s playroom.

These DIY storage projects from repurposed cardboard boxes are ingenious and inexpensive storage ideas. If you loved this post, you will love our DIY dollar store organizing ideas also!

Tips To Become Comfortable After A Move

Moving to a new city can be disorienting. There are post move tips to make this adjustment period much easier. The post move technically starts as soon as the individual walks into their new home. The first step should be organization so the person can begin to feel comfortable. Making a new list for the current tasks will help make the relocation process easier and more efficient.

After the bathroom and bedroom the kitchen should be unpacked. This can be stretched out so the pace is more comfortable. There is no deadline to unpack the boxes. The cheap moving boxes filled with essentials should be unpacked first. This is usually the boxes from the bathroom and bedroom. This ensures the individual can meet their immediate requirements.

The individual should tour their new home so it is not unfamiliar territory. This includes looking for any leaks in the pipes, finding any pre-existing damage, keeping an eye open for any infestation, locating the electricity and water meters to write down the readings and finding the main shut off for the water and the fuse box. Make certain the home is child proofed if necessary, check the safety of the windows and doors and look for smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

No matter where the home is located there will be a different postal code. If the postal address is not changed the mail will be delivered to the old residence. This should be done as soon as possible by visiting the local post office or online at the website for USPS. It is important to remain in contact with the new renters or owner of the old residence to ensure all mail is received.

If there is a child they must be registered at their new school. The parents should be aware which school their child will be attending. If the school has not yet been established colleagues, friends and neighbors can provide good recommendations. Information can be obtained online and schools can be visited in person. There will be documents required to register the child in school.

Finding a good pediatrician for the family is important. A veterinarian is also necessary if the family has a pet. The needs of the family, the type of doctors required, the physician’s experience and their personality must all be carefully considered. If the move is in another state the vehicle must be registered and a new drivers license obtained. This can be accomplished by visiting the DMV. The average time allotted by the state is ten to thirty days from the time of the move to avoid fines.

Pets need help acclimating because they have been removed from their comfort zone. Make sure the new home is clean because most pets have an excellent sense of smell. Ensure their needs are taken care of and give them extra attention. Try to avoid leaving them alone for long periods. Keep an eye on the pets and give them time to acclimate.

Moving can cause separation anxiety from old friends leading to depression and sadness. Talk to the neighbors, become acquainted with co-workers, take dancing lessons, join a new club, begin a new hobby with the locals and make friends. Remain in communication with friends from the old neighborhood. Explore the new city and find ideal locations to visit.