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.

Shipping fragile items

As with any business, the product offered to your customers is really what keeps your business functioning. When it comes to eCommerce it’s extremely important to get your products to the customer the way both you and your client expects. With so many packages being shipped daily, your shipped products is just one of the many parcel packages handled by package and mail carriers. As a business owner it is in you and your client’s best interest to take any and steps available to get your fragile products to your clients without any damage.

Box size
When mailing fragile items the most important variable you can control is the size of the shipping boxes you plan to use. What you don’t want to do is buy boxes that aren’t big enough. The boxes ordered should be big enough to comfortably fit your fragile products, but also enough room to include protective materials. You will want to use boxes that give you at least an additional 1 to 2 inches of space on all sides of the product to add bubble wrap or shipping peanuts.

Protective packing materials
When it comes to protective materials, it is very important to ensure you have enough of it to effectively protect your fragile items. Its good practice to use bubble wrap to physically wrap the items, and use packing peanuts to act as a “bed” for a double layer of protection.
Element protection solutions

Not only is it in you and your clients best interest to protect your fragile items from damage from dropping or mishandling by the carrier, you want to take into account the possibility of damage from rain or other weather related damage. It is good practice to wrap your fragile products in water resistant materials, like plastic bags or shrink wrapping. Having a liquid prof layer in addition to the bubble wrap, and shipping peanuts will give you and your clients peace of mind that the product will make it to its destination undamaged.

Proper wrapping
When wrapping your fragile items, it is important to make sure your products are securely wrapped and prepared for the shipment. It makes no sense to wrap your fragile items with protective materials, for them to slide out during shipment, and nor protect the item as intended. Its good practice to wrap your items using some packing tape to securely attach the protective materials to your product.

Avoid wrapping too tight
Depending on the items being shipped, it’s important not to wrap your fragile items too tight. Wrapping things like glasses, or dishes too tightly can potential add additional pressure that may cause the items to break from the added pressure.

Sealing the box
Once we have securely wrapped our fragile item(s) you want to make sure the shipping boxes used are sealed properly. Be sure to use a liberal amount of packing tape to ensure the box does not open during the shipping process.

Consider the distance shipped
Statistically the further your package has to travel, the higher the odds of it suffering damage on its way. Always consider the distance and add more protective materials to account for the increased probability of damage occurring during longer travel distances.

Package Labeling
Up to this point we have wrapped our fragile items assuming damage due to poor handling or liquid damage. It is a very good idea to label your package fragile, to let the carriers know to handle with care.

Insurance consideration
Now that we have securely wrapped our fragile items, and labeled them accordingly, insurance can act as additional layer of protection. It is in your, as a business owner, best interest to get insurance on our items just in case something goes wrong.

So You’re Moving – Ideas to Remember and Consider

Moving can be a tiring experience. It’s easy to get stressed out about all the obligations it requires. Some movers prefer to hire a professional moving service, and some tough through it. One of the most basic necessities to always have on hand are cheap moving boxes. There’s a variety of sizes you’ll need to get started packing and get a move on. You’ll also need to keep a few items on hand during your moving process.

Important First Aid Equipment and Medicine

Everyone knows that emergencies like to happen when we least expect them. Keeping a first aid kit on hand is essential. Accidents often happen during the process of packing, loading, and unpacking. Medications are also important to remember. Pack a small bag with any prescription medicine you or your family needs. This includes over the counter meds for things like headaches and stomach problems.

Security Codes or Keys

It’s necessary to talk to your realtor, landlord, or homeowner to make sure you have access to your new home before you move. The last thing you want is to arrive and have no way to get in. You may also consider speaking to them about any security codes your home requires.

Tools

Remember your toolkit! New or used furniture can require assembly. Keep your tools handy just in case. Last minute repairs or breaks are possible as well. Bring your wrenches, screwdrivers, and anything else you can think of. Always be prepared.

Keep Fueled and Hydrated

As mentioned earlier, moving is a physical and draining experience. Hydration is important. It’s easy to become dehydrated when you’re focused on getting the job done. That can be a dangerous situation. Drink only water and sports beverages to keep your electrolytes maintained. Pack healthy snacks to keep your body fueled and full of energy. This will help with any muscle soreness you may experience in the days after moving.

Chargers

Chargers are easy to forget. Communication is important. You need access to your mobile devices, especially during a move. Make sure to take phone, laptop, and tablet chargers with you. Mobile chargers are even better to have if you have a long trip ahead of you.

Getting Rid of Trash and Unneeded Items

Moving is a great way to clear out some trash and old junk you don’t need anymore. Remember to keep garbage bags on hand as you go. These are also great for getting rid of the trash you accumulate during the unpacking process, or while you’re cleaning your old residence. It’s only right to leave a nice and clean home behind for the next occupant. Used items you no longer need can be donated. Take advantage of the situation and deliver them to your local charity or hold a yard sale.

Leave it to the Professionals

The hassle and anxiety of moving can be extremely daunting for some. Let the professionals at Firemen Movers lend a hand! Their experienced movers will guide you through the moving process smoothly and effortlessly. Firemen Movers has a contingency plan for any situation. They provide any type of cheap boxes you need! They’re always there to support their clients during their move.

Moving and What to Do With All Those Boxes

The big day has come. You and your family are moving! It is a welcome change after spending the last year living in a house where the roof leaked and the neighbors kept you up half the night with their incessant parties. Now comes the biggest and probably most dreaded task of moving: packing. We’ll start with the very basic task of packing items by the room they belong to. When you get to your new house, you won’t want to be shuffling through shipping boxes, having to open them, and trying to see which item belongs in each room.

That will take an unnecessary amount of time and energy and moving is tiring enough. To prevent this problem, pack items into a box specified specifically for the room it belong to. For example, pack the kitchen items with only the kitchen items, the bathroom items with the bathroom items, and so on and so forth. When you get to your new house, this will make unpacking much more simple.

The next step you will want to take when packing is remembering to label your boxes! It sounds simple enough, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to do this or just plain blow it off because they think it is unnecessary in general. It is a very important part of the moving process. Remember, there doesn’t have to be a whole paragraph written on the side of your moving box for you to be able to know what it contains. Label your boxes with simple one word descriptions such as “Bedroom” or “Kitchen”. Add a number to it if there are multiple numbers of boxes for one room. You can even color-code your labels if you feel like it. However, any amount of labeling your moving boxes will greatly alleviate any stress that comes when unpacking your things.

There are people that don’t put too much thought into packing their things when it comes time to move. There are also the hugely compulsive people that need to have an organization process or they will feel like they’re not doing their job of moving properly. For those people, there are inventory lists. These lists track each and every item back to a specific moving box. While not necessary for everybody, some people just like the feeling of knowing each one of their personal belongings is accounted for. Also they know if they need to find something, they can get to it rather quickly.

When you are moving, it is essential that you put aside and label your most valuable items. These are the items you want to have with you the first day you move in such as any medication or your television set to hook up in your living room. You can label these boxes as “Day 1 Box” or “Need As Soon As Possible”. If you have movers moving your boxes, they’ll be able to set these aside for you. Hygiene products and cable boxes are another example of items to be used immediately.Perishable items that need to be moved to the refrigerator should be packed at the top of a box so they are moved first.

If you have fragile items, you should definetly label them as such. Whether you are moving your own things or having professional movers move them for you, you’ll want to know what boxes you need to be careful with so as not to damage important items. Lastly,
try not to label your boxes as valuable names such as “Rare Porcelain” or “Computers”. This is asking for someone to steal your things. Be extra cautious if you have movers helping you. Keep track of the number of boxes you have and where they are at all times. If all of this sounds too difficult, have a professional moving company help you. For a small cost, they will help you pack and label all your moving boxes accordingly.

Wedding present ideas that quickly catch the eye

We have all heard it, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.” Still, we cannot help it when someone presents us with an offer that seems like the deal of the century. It is like hitting the lottery without having to purchase a ticket. The problem is that someone else won the lottery by preying on our naïve or greed intentions.

There are too many dishonest movers in the industry that preys on people who do not know any better. These unethical companies often lure their customers with websites that look legitimate. Potential customers contact them and receive quotes that beat out the competition. Thinking that they have gotten a bargain, they schedule an appointment. When the representative from the moving company shows up at the customer’s home, they load up their furniture and leave. Unfortunately, that is often the last time the customer will ever see their property.

You can protect yourself from this type of unscrupulous activity. Before committing to conducting business with any company, do some research to find out everything you can about the company and their reputation. To help you determine whether a moving company is legitimate here is some information to be aware of about dishonest moving companies.

1: They do not have a business license.

The government has no information on unlicensed companies. Therefore, the government does not monitor them, nor do these companies follow any governmental regulations. Since there is no regulatory oversight, there is little recourse for the customer who hires them.

2: Extremely low prices.

Operating a moving company is expensive. Moving companies must pay for skilled drivers, trucking and fuel expenses, warehouse and storage fees, and taxes. These companies charge the rates that they charge because of the cost of operating a business. If they set their prices too low, it will be impossible for them to remain in business. Therefore, if this one company beat the competition by hundreds of dollars, it should be cause for concern. Companies that outbid their closest competitors by unrealistic margins are not more business savvy. They are most likely thieves.

3: They are uninsured.

Inquire about the company’s insurance options. An unscrupulous moving company may present a flimsy certificate of insurance. Check with the supposed insurance provider to get more information on the coverage. If your property becomes damaged during transit, you will need to be able to file a claim.

4: There is no physical address.

A moving company without a verifiable physical address is not a legitimate moving company. Illegitimate moving companies that don’t maintain a physical address can quickly close their website, disconnect the phone, and leave town. Think about all the equipment, trucks, and shipping supplies that it takes to operate a moving company. If you locate the company in cyberspace, but can’t find a physical location, they probably don’t exist.

Another thing to consider is whether the moving company belongs to any industry organizations, such as the American Moving & Storage Association, it is probably not legitimate. The American Moving & Storage Association requires moving companies to be licensed, have a good reputation, and maintain high standards.

How to Choose a Suitable Moving Company

The first thing when moving is, make sure you get some cheap moving boxes, haha. Really, it’s don’t attempt to do it by yourself. That’s everyone’s first mistake. The best thing to do is think about hiring a moving company. Make sure you hire a good one; you don’t want some guy moving your things that isn’t caring for them properly.

You also have to make sure that you don’t break the bank, too. Here is how you can go about doing this:

1.Get recommendations from friends, family, coworkers, anyone you know. Ask around, I’m sure someone you know has moved before; they should be able to help you out with a good moving company. Social media is a good way, too.
2.Read a lot of customer reviews. It’s important to know what other people thought about the moving companies near you so you can get a good idea of who is trustworthy. Make sure you use a reputable site like Yelp when researching. Online reviews are made from satisfied or disgruntled customers so it should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect from the moving companies near you.
3.You need to get some estimates of how much this is going to cost. You’ve probably found a few movers that you like by now so give them a call and explain how far you are going and how much is being moved and get an estimate from those companies. It is important to know the cost before going full steam ahead.
4.Have the moving companies come out and do a home survey for you. Online quotes and quotes over the phone are a good ball park number but they can change drastically when they get there and see how much is going. So having someone from each company come out and do an assessment of what’s getting moved is a good idea to get a more accurate finalized number.
Now that you have gotten a good list of some reputable moving companies, how do you go about analyzing and picking the best one at the best price? First, do not go off of just the price alone. That’s a good starting point, but you don’t want that to be your only judging factor.
1.You have to check the legality of the company. Make sure that you go online and ensure that they have all the proper licensing, insurance, and registrations that are required by the USDOT. Make sure you do your due diligence and check out the background of each company.
2.You need to make sure that they are dependable, too. Check their status with the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA). Being a member of AMSA is a great testament that they are a reliable company.
3.Make sure they have top ratings from customers and even the BBB. This will make sure that you will be happy with the company.
4.Compare the quotes you have and choose the best one with the best quality. Don’t just go off your gut feeling either.
5.Make sure that everything you set up with your mover is crystal clear. You want to make sure you comprehend everything, so if you’re not sure about something then you should ask your mover, don’t be afraid to either, it’s your stuff, right?

Get Creative With That Gift Wrap

Everyone loves giving a nice present. People also love getting a nice present. One way to make any present stand out is with the use of creative and fun gift wrap. Thoughtful, innovative gift wrapping ideas can make the person getting the gift smile even before they open it. Even if you’re not particularly crafty, you can still create something that will delight someone you love. All you need is a few simple materials such as shipping boxes and a bit of time. Make sure you have the supplies you want on hand before you begin. This way, you don’t have to worry that you’re missing anything as you start wrapping. Pay close attention to the details of your project and you’ll have something that your recipient will enjoy the moment you show it to them.

Simple and Easy

Great gift wrap doesn’t have to be elaborate. For example, if you have great handwriting, you can write a lovely message on plain but elegant brown paper. Take advantage of innovative paper options on the market today. Many companies sell products such as black craft paper. Create the impression of a chalkboard by using silver or white markers on the paper to write a message to the recipient. Get even more creative by taking white wrapping paper and some watercolors. Splash on some color and you’ll have a one of a kind wrapping paper with artistic flair that will really stand out in a crowd.

Use What You Have

Go through your closet and drawers to find even more inspiration for unique wrapping paper. Maybe you were thinking about repainting a room. If so, you probably have extra paint sample swatches on hand. Glue these swatches to the side of a plain brown box. Do you love to craft and have extra yarn on hand? Use it to weave a unique design on the side of your gift box. The same is true of duct tape. Duct tape comes in many colors and patterns. Take an ordinary brown box. Wrap brightly colored duct tape along the sides. Brown paper also makes an excellent setting for any leftover paper doilies you might have on hand. Write a personal message on the doily. You can also use other items that help give the wrap a personal touch and indicate that you really understand their hobbies and likes and dislikes.

Their Personality

One way to show that you care about someone deeply is by using items like sheets of music or old newspaper as wrapping paper. Take old books you have around the house. Use them to wrap up your present for someone who loves books. You can also do the same for those who love to travel. Use old maps you have on hand and don’t use anymore now that you have GSP. Old maps are full of color and easy to fold around any box. If you can sew, consider creating wrapping paper that uses your ability well. Take fabric like burlap and sew something special. Use fabric to create fabric ribbons to top the box or to create a gift pouch. An old shirt that you’re not using now also makes an excellent topping for any gift. Creativity helps you make any gift truly special.