A Guide To Creating A Retail Store That Your Audience Can't Resist

Photo: DFS Group

If you have plans to build a retail store, whether you’re selling a bunch of original products or products you have outsourced elsewhere, you’re going to need to make sure that your retail store is something your audience can’t resist visiting.

It’s so much easier to entice return customers back to your store than it is to attract new customers every single time - so putting a focus on your loyal customers is key if you want people to come back time and time again.

However, below you will find numerous tips and tricks that can help you with just about any retail store you decide to open. Take a look

1. Build A Strong Brand 

Start by making sure your brand is as strong as possible. A strong brand that people can resonate with and recognize is going to encourage your audience to come back time and time again.

It takes time to build a strong brand, but just some of the things you should focus on to begin with include:

• Using color palettes that have been carefully chosen 

• Using the right fonts

• Using words and slang that resonates with your audience 

• Making sure your branding is consistent everywhere 

• Creating a brand voice 

• Thinking of who your brand would be if it were a person

Look at some of the brands you most admire and would like to be like and figure out what they do well. You can even look at branding faux pas and learn from them. Your brand is all about how you treat people who interact with you too. It isn't just about having a great logo! 

2. Tell Your Brand Story 

Telling your brand story is a great way to get your audience on side and make them want to come to you. However, to do this, you really need to know your audience and how you’d like to position your brand. Being authentic when you do this is absolutely crucial, but you can be smart about the way you put your brand story together. 

3. Know Everything About Your Customers

Knowing as much as possible about your customers will help you to further position your brand as somewhere they want to shop. For example, you should know.

• The age of your audience

• Their family and relationship status

• Where they live

• Their income 

• Their jobs 

This doesn't mean you need to survey every single customer, but it may help you to come up with some consumer profiles so you can better target your audience.

4. Understand Your Customer’s Pain Points

Understanding what your customer’s pain points are will allow you to solve them, or make buying from you easier for them. For this, you can do surveys to get a feel of what your customers see as pain points in their everyday lives. You could stand in the street and take surveys, or create a survey online, it really doesn’t matter. What matters is that you work hard to understand your customers and help to solve any problems they may have. 

5. Listen To Feedback 

Make sure you’re open minded and prepared to listen to feedback from your audience. Feedback may not always be something you asked for, but that doesn't mean it isn't extremely valuable for you. Both positive and negative feedback can be used to improve your retail store and create an experience like nothing else your audience have had. 

You can learn something from each piece of feedback you receive, and it’ll benefit you to ask your audience for it, too. Encourage customers to leave feedback on sites like Trustpilot and even your facebook page. 

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6. Strategically Plan Your LayOut And Pathways 

When looking at how to put your retail store together, you need to make sure you strategically lay it all out and plan your path ways. Everything should have a reason behind it, and nothing should be random. 

By measuring your foot traffic, for example, you can get lots of insights about your store, including how well your marketing efforts are working. You can start by using advanced tools such as mobile tracking technology, heat sensors, or video surveillance. These tools not only count the number of people in your store, they can also track shopper behavior, dwell time, and other helpful metrics. Doing this will help you to see what is working and what may need to be changed to get the best results. 

7. Work With Experienced Professionals To Plan Your Store 

If you really want to nail your retail store, working with experienced professionals who have put together many retail stores could help you to get the best results right from the get-go. You could have a team create an animated version of your store to make sure everything will work before you put it together, for instance. This Animation Pricing Guide can give you a better idea of what to expect and what you would pay for if you used the service. You may be able to take lots of the guesswork out of it by using a similar service. 

8. Keep Your Store Well Maintained 

Keeping your store well maintained is one of the most important things you can do once it’s up and running. Look at it from the outside and try to get an idea of what people walking past are thinking. You could even survey people. Even simply keeping your windows clean and making sure there aren't any leaves outside of your front doors can make a big difference. 

9. Use Curbside Extras

Focusing on window displays is great, but focus on other elements too. Using sandwich boards and showing off your personality with a witty message could be a wonderful idea. This makes for great social media content, too.

10. Make Sure Employees Stay Mindful

Even if there is nobody in the store, your employees should stay mindful of how they appear from the outside. They should remain professional and busy, and always welcoming so that passers by are more likely to come in. 

11. Invest in Employee Training 

You can have the prettiest shop, implement the hottest gimmicks, and run the most enticing offers, however, if your customer service is off, you’re not going to get very far. Training your employees on all kinds of things, not just how to treat customers but how to prepare for mean customers is important. 

Make sure your team know that not everybody is nice, and they may need to prepare for times when a customer is unhappy and takes it out on them. 

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12. Build An Online Presence 

More and more people spend time online these days, so having an online presence is going to help you spread awareness and build your brand. You don’t even need to sell online providing you have a presence. You can build connections and encourage people to stop by this way - it’s also a great way to share news of your store. 

13. Make Customer Loyalty A Big Focus 

Customer loyalty should be a huge focus of yours. Alongside making sure everything looks tempted and that your employees are well trained, offering incentives to your customers will help. Could you incorporate loyalty cards, for instance? Loyalty cards are proven to encourage customers to return again and again. Going above and beyond can also be a great way to get them to come back - could you offer them great, detailed advice on a product they need and how to use it? Perhaps you could throw in a freebie? Make every experience with your brand a positive one! 

14. Offer Extra Services 

Are there other services you can offer that may encourage people to come back time and time again? For instance, if you sell jewellery, you could offer a free resizing service for people. Not only will this bring people into your store, it’ll encourage them to browse while you take a few links out of their watch or something similar. You could even offer free jewellery cleaning, which will be a sure way to make sure they think of your store whenever they need to buy a gift. Free battery changes on watches are also a great idea. 

15. Consider Working With Influencers And Brand Ambassadors

Have you found people you think would be a great personification of your brand? They may be able to help you increase your store traffic. If they have great social profiles and are local to your business, they could be hugely beneficial contacts to have. You will need to discuss your deal with them - will you give them free products and payment, or just one or the other? Remember, they are providing value to your business, and creating content takes time. Just because they enjoy it and it seems ‘easy’ doesn't mean they will agree to do it for free stuff alone. 

Creating a retail store that your audience can’t resist can seem like a huge, impossible task at first, but by using the advice here and remaining consistent with your maintenance and training, you can ensure your store stands the test of time.

Christmas Tree Shortage: A Wholesale Buyer’s Dilemma

Buying a real Christmas tree is a rite of passage that millions of people take part in each year. This year, however, there is a tree shortage that may affect prices as well as supply. The shortage is affecting everyone from wholesale buyers and retailers down to the consumer. Exactly how will wholesale buyers be affected by the Christmas tree shortage and what are they doing about it?

What Factors Contributed to the Shortage?

There are two specific factors that have contributed to this year's shortage of Christmas trees. The first started in 2008. During that year, the country was in a recession and many farmers decided not to plant as many trees or to quit the business completely. Many tree farmers that had been in the business since the 1960's, feltforced into retirement by the recession.

After that, in 2012, a drought in Michigan affected tree growth. Frasier Firs, the most popular type of Christmas tree, ideally need rain about once or twice a week. It takes at least seven years from the time a tree is planted until it reaches an ideal height of about 7 feet. Because of that timeframe, we're now seeing the results of that drought. Not to mentionthe excessive flooding and wildfires throughout the country within the last few years,the national shortage of Christmas trees was inevitable.

How Will the Shortage Affect Wholesale Buyers?

Wholesale buyers typically buy in bulk and sell to retailers who, in turn, sell trees to the public. The usual process of buying and selling Christmas trees is likely to look different this year because of the shortage. For starters, many wholesale buyers are being forced to work with growers they've never done business with. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it can be a risk. Wholesalers will need to develop new relationships and take a chance with individuals and small business owners they’re not familiar.

Not only will wholesale buyers have to find new sources, they may also have to work harder to find retailers and tree sellers in their area. If growers live in different parts of the country, wholesalers will have to calculate shipping costs as an extra expense. This could affect their inventory and the cost to the customer. Finally, it may also be difficult to get certain brands or types of trees. Frasier Fir, Douglas Fir, White Pine, and Scotch Pine are just a few of the more popular brands.

How Will It Affect Consumers?

Consumers who don't wait until the last minute to purchase a tree will likely still find a good selection. Prices in some specific areas and states will be higher than in others, however. A 7 or 8 foot Frasier Fir is one of the most sought after trees by most shoppers. Just like buyers are getting creative and making changes, consumers may have to do the same. If they can't find the type of tree they're looking for at a reasonable price, consumers may need to look for another type or size. Thankfully, there are many types of trees that are just as beautiful.

How Will the Shortage Be Remedied?

Those working in the Christmas tree industry will need to be as flexible as possible this year to compensate for the shortage. Selling different types of trees that aren't normally used as Christmas trees, or at least aren't as popular, is one way wholesale buyers can make up for the shortage. Another way is to find local growers as often as possible. This will not only cut down on shipping costs, but will make sure the trees look fresher and healthier upon arrival since they begin to die once they’ve has been cut.

Unfortunately though, many in the Christmas tree business see this year as just the beginning of the shortage. Since the average tree takes 7 to 10 years to grow, there will likely be a shortage to contend with for the next several years.

A Booming Startup: 5 Business Startup Tips for New Business Owners

Many people need guidance, particularly when starting a business. While some company owners talk with other business owners, others prefer to read books or use the internet to gather valuable information.

Suggestions on business startup enable people to avoid usual problems or mistakes early on. Guidance can be as basic as choosing the ideal location or deciding which goods to sell. Most importantly, a business owner should have the adequate working capital to operate his or her business effectively.

Design a Business Plan

You can consider a business plan as a road map to success; thus, creating a business plan is imperative before you commence your venture. You will notice that there are several different fields that you must learn.

Some examples of these are a marketing plan, suppliers list, equipment list, and the processes needed for daily operations. Although these are some of the many areas that you must look into, you will need more preparation to establish a successful business.

Keep Everything Simple

If you are like other entrepreneurs, then you must have an effective business plan, and you are ready to operate with it. Still, you must be mindful not to allow your idea to develop into something complicated. Because if you do, then you might end up with an expensive product that might turn off the interests of buyers.

As a newcomer in the business industry, you must begin small and simplify your focus. Determine the effectiveness of your business concept and design a simple, quality product or service. A thriving business plan should be capable of satisfying the needs of customers and surpass expectations.

Cancel useless features that reduces the business potential and cost you cash. As a small company, you do not need all the special features that a huge corporation has because it will be more natural to add pieces to your company as it develops slowly.

Count the Expenditures

The moment you develop your business concept, try to estimate the amount of cash it needs. You must factor in every expenditure required to start and operate. Some expenses that you must take into considerations are the location, supplies, marketing, rent, bills, and more.

Always come up with an educated guess and try to double it at least. Why? Because you will experience unexpected expenses of operating a business, which makes it better to come over-prepared than end up running short on financial resources when expenditures begin to roll.

Also, when you are thinking of the expenses to start a company, do not forget about your personal net income. Determine how much cash you need to survive, which includes food, gas, rent, healthcare, emergency funds, and others.

Don’t Be Afraid to Fail

Failure does not prevent you from eventually succeeding because it is a necessary step sometimes. The most successful entrepreneurs do not let the terror of failure stop them from reaching for what they think to be an excellent scheme.

Although some of the risks will not succeed, the risks that do will define how big your motivation and dedication are for your business.

Stay Healthy

Sometimes, you need to work smarter to protect your body because nothing is as valuable as your health and that you should not sacrifice it for the sake of your business ventures.

Eating unhealthily, losing sleep, and allowing stress to consume yourself can undoubtedly affect your overall function as a person. So, it is essential to take care of your health to have the tools needed in executing your goals.

To Conclude

There are several business tips for establishing a new business, and that it can be confusing as to which one you should follow. However, by being open to suggestions and having the willingness to learn as you go, you will be smarter in making your decisions. Hence, a better chance of navigating your business towards success.

Secrets to Managing Small Business Finances

Have you ever wondered why small business collapse easily than medium and large enterprises? In today's world, employment opportunities are shrinking by the day, and most people are going the business way. Whereas starting a small business may require less capital, it may be a non-starter if you operate without a strategy. For example, some people may have a poster “ check out for more.” However, without a strategy, it will fail.

Any business, whether large or small, requires a strategy, failure to which you may incur irrecoverable losses. Here, we shall look at the secrets of managing a small business. We shall also look at the reasons why small businesses fail. Let's kick off our discussion.

Lack of experience

One primary reason is the lack of experience. Notably, there is a tendency of opening a business to make money without factoring in the expertise required.

It's vital not to start a business just because others are in business and are succeeding. Don't start a business due to influence and trend. Most people who succeed in business have a secret behind it. For instance, it would be foolhardy to start a car spare shop when you have no idea what's you need to run a successful automobile business.

Sometimes, there is a need for an expert opinion before starting any business. However, for a small business, it may not be prudent to employ an expert as it may increase your running costs.

Most importantly, a business stems from an idea or an interest. Without this, then it'll be a non-starter.

It's important to learn the necessary skills, if not all, the basics which will enable you to have an idea of what you're about to venture. For instance, learn about simple accounting, filing receipts, and other documents relating to the business.

In other words, simple bookkeeping is a must-have skill, since managing your cash is a topmost skill that every business person should have. Maintain cash in cash out register and sales register, which will help you to know the cash flow in your business. 

Lack of capital 

Every business requires capital to survive. Most often, a business person may have an idea of good business, but a lack of capital will hinder you from progressing. 

Running a business that strains financial will depress you and may eventually collapse. It can be so annoying having a successful business with a good flow of customers but lacking stock. When customers order products, they expect delivery without delay. Failure to satisfy your customer needs may lead to their loss.

When you start a small business, you should be able to tell whether it's a worthy investment or not. If it's not and you're not in a position to fund it, close it to prevent losses.

 Such losses may result in paying rent, salary, and bills, which are not satisfied with the profits. 

Poor location of the business

A poor location means a lack of customers. Before putting up a business, learn the location very well to know if there are prospective customers. It's possible to know from the number of established businesses that are similar in the area. Do you know, the more the similarity of business, the more the inflow of customers? It is because you'll be able to get a variety of products within one location rather than hoping from this street to the other.

Most people tend to think that if your business is alone without competitors, you'll swim in money. No! This is a misconception and has no basis. Businesses that operate within one location are offering the same products are likely to have a steady flow of customers. It is important to know the customers you expect. For instance, it'll be unwise to open a club next to a school. Which customers are you targeting here? Your business is completely misplaced. 

High cost on fixed assets 

Investing too much on assets for a small business may end up in disappointment if the profits are not forthcoming. Not just assets alone, spending too much on capital can be a problem if the business doesn't break even within the first six months of opening. You have borrowed finances to start the business, the grace period is over, and you've not managed to break even. It means you cannot meet your financial obligations. Invest little by little and increase the stock and capital as the business grows. 

Poor bookkeeping

A business can cheat you that you're making a profit when you're not. To establish the business is doing well, you must have a sales book, stock requisition book, expenditure book where you record all transactions from the business. These records assist even during the making of tax returns. Your financier may also require such records to establish your creditworthiness. Do not allow your business to run on a pocket-bash box basis without knowing how the cash flow is doing. 

Poor credit management 

How do you maintain your debtors' records? All the goods sold on credit should be noted down in the credit book. Likewise, all your creditors should have a record. It's important to reflect every payment in this book to prevent double payment. It also helps in proving the delivery of products. 

Converting business funds to person use 

Do a proper bank of business proceeds. Maintain an up to date accounting to establish what profit you're making. Do not allow your business funds to get into the pocket only to end up in your personal use. Though you may be having profit draw a salary on those profits and limit yourself strictly to salary. Remember, your business is growing and may demand more capital.  

Conclusion

You may have opened a business intending to run a small shop. Your shop becomes popular, and the demand goes up. For instance, it's a small grocery shop, and it's getting stretched as the customers swell every day. What will happen? Frustrations to customers, net they'll look for an alternative. Customers are gone, even if you try to resuscitate the business, it'll not get back to original form.

Business News for the Bobbleheads Industry

Many people have been wondering what is going to be the next possible success for the American Business chart. There are many innovation companies that can give you the most impressive financial results by the end of the year. Their stock prices have been elevated to unprecedented levels and there are some derivatives that are giving you the greatest income you may ever have enjoyed.

One of them is the Bobbleheads manufacturing industry that has taken the market by storm in the latest years. The custom bobbleheads here are some of the oddest dolls in the world that can make the difference in the way you are thinking and acting when you are buying gifts for your beloved ones. They have given people a new perspective that is more adventurous and perpetual than at any time in the past.

Bobbleheads are by far the most well-known doll for a gift in the present time. They have been made from fully recyclable materials that are easy to use and have a perfect smoothness to touch that is not comparable to anything else you have seen so far. Their customization keeps on being their greatest advantage against the ravage competition.

This means you can pre-order your own bobblehead simply by sending a picture of your beloved characters that you would like to be depicted on your doll. Then the creators of these handcrafted dolls are forging special molds that give the final shape to your bobblehead. Their special characteristic keeps on being the supersized head compared to the rest of the body that looks rather natural.

This enormous head size gives an essence of fun to the whole concept and can make these bobblehead dolls differ from anything else you have encountered with so far. Bobbleheads then are painted to the colors you have already found suitable for the situation. The colors are always ecological and can stand very hard maintenance in terms of washing and rinsing. You can rest reassures that with the bobblehead dolls you will be amazed by the extreme quality of the product and the intuition of the results.

How bobbleheads are influencing the world’s doll business

Doll business around the world has been stagnating for the last few decades. Since children have started to use online gaming the dolls have passed to a different age group that cannot yet handle the online gaming consoles. This creates real pressure on the doll manufacturers that have seen the price of their company’s stocks to plummet suddenly due to the loss of worldwide demands for dolls.

This could have become fatal for the doll companies if they haven’t come up with the idea for the creation of the bobblehead. It is a doll that is not primarily directed to the toddlers but to the adults. You can easily order your own bobblehead doll and use it as an enterprise gift to your customers.

Or you can decorate your home or office ordering a bunch of these bobblehead dolls that will give you the competitive advantage of fun against all other opponents in the market. Bobbleheads are producing a stable income for the doll companies and have contributed the most to their balanced budgets as well as their profits.

It is a really profitable multi-million business that is run primarily through the internet. There is a special platform where customers could easily log in and try to find their own doll shape that complies with their aesthetic criteria. Then customers have the option to upload their pictures so that designers know what the final shape is they have to give to the customized bobbleheads.

Bobbleheads are then delivered to the customers upon release of the proper payments and everything seems to be working smoothly. This trend has given an enormous boost to the business and created happy and loyal customers who are returning back to buy more during festivity seasons.

The business future in the doll industry

In the era of bobbleheads, there is a great future for the doll industry indeed. The manufacturers are trying to lower the materials cost by pre-ordering large quantities of plastic and fabric as well as paints and anything else they could be in need of when producing the bobbleheads dolls.

However, the progress in the material sector has posed them to the pleasant position to have many incentives to reduce prices since they can benefit from the great discounts in the raw materials. This is a great time for companies to expand their business and thrive. Their financial results are more than satisfying for the stockholders and board of regents who are all supporting the further expansion of the doll creating the business.

Bobbleheads have given the competitive advantage to these items which seemed to be dead for the toy market even from two decades ago. They have opened a new way to the most successful doll companies which have adopted the know-how of the bobblehead creation industry.

Not to mention, that the bobbleheads are also enforcing the employment rates. New skilled people have managed to find a job in the factories where the bobbleheads are created. This makes an economy of scale that every investment brings back even more money and liquidity which is all based on the concept of bobblehead industry creation.

Conclusion

Bobbleheads keep on being the best gift for Christmas and other festivity seasons as well as for birthday occasions. They can be placed virtually anywhere in your premises and can give you moments of fun and joy when you are simply looking at them.

They are flexible enough to be held for multiple hours in your hands without causing you excessive sweating or any other form of irritation. These dolls have been created to give you more hilarious times with the supersized head that can rotate up to 360 degrees and make you laugh even if you are alone.

Give the bobbleheads to your kids to learn them play with real dolls. The results are going to make you proud.

5 Types of Software to Improve Your Retail Business

Over the last decade, technology has become very influential in the retail industry and its influence is only expected to keep growing. According to eMarketer, the total retail market will reach nearly $30 trillion by 2020!

So, if your goal is to run a successful retail business, you’ll have to take advantage of tech and choose the best retail software for your company.

Don’t know where to start? Here are the 5 main types of software that can help you provide better customer experience and boost your revenue.

1. ERP software

ERP (Enterprise resource planning) software is a tool that integrates all processes and data across a company. ERP software allows you to collect, manage, store, and analyze data from different activities and company departments in a single centralized location.

The versatile nature of ERP allows companies across a number of industries to implement solutions based on their specific needs. Some of the major industries that use ERP include clothing, construction, distribution, industrial services, healthcare, and, of course, retail. Just imagine how easier it would be if you’d use an apparel manufacturing software to keep track of every single clothing piece, every cost, and every important meeting with potential vendors. It would save you so much time and optimize the whole manufacturing process, allowing you to invest the extra effort in making new creations and new profit.

When it comes to retail ERP software, SYSPRO and Acumatica are two great examples.

Main benefits of ERP systems:

• Optimized workflow and profitability

• Centralized database with all customer information and documents stored in one location

• Increased efficiency and modernized inventory management

• Reduced errors by automating processes.

2. Inventory Control Software

In today’s business environment, even small businesses need to use automated inventory management software. It’s become essential in almost all industries by helping companies track their products and distribute them to customers.

Inventory control software handles all aspects of managing a company’s inventory: tracking, organizing sales, purchasing materials, and other processes with an aim to increase productivity and maintain competitiveness. Logiwa and Zoho Inventory are great examples of inventory control software solutions.

Main benefits of inventory control software:

As the Inventory management system tracks product status and extracts historical information, it allows you to plan ahead, forecasts sales, and prevent delivery delays. In addition, your customers will be able to track their order status, which will increase customer satisfaction.

3. Retail CRM software

CRM (Customer relationship management) software allows your company to manage interactions with both existing and potential customers. CRM software analyzes customer data to help you improve relationships with your customers, focusing on customer retention and boosting sales. SpringBoardRetail and Eposnow are two examples of retail CRM software.

Main benefits of retail CRM software:

• A CRM solution collects data and provides tools to segment that data. It also offers access to data visualization tools, like graphs and charts for further analysis.

• CRM automatically stores all company communications, allowing you to view call details, emails, and calendars in one place. This enables different teams to collaborate more efficiently and improve their productivity.

• CRM provides access to customer interactions and order histories, enabling employees to take a unified approach toward customers and, as a result, improving customer service. In addition, this access to customer data allows your company to build better relationships with clients.

4. E-commerce Software

E-Commerce software will allow your business to sell products/services online. It will enable you to fulfill orders, remove or add new products, process payments, etc. An e-commerce software automates and makes selling processes much simpler, thus saving you money, time, and effort while at the same time providing customers with exceptional service. Some of the most popular e-commerce software examples are Magento, WooCommerce, and Shopify.

Main benefits of e-commerce software:

• Start an online business quickly and easily. Most e-commerce software solutions provide website builders with pre-built templates, which allows anyone to create an online store without help from a professional web developer or web designer. Just put all the store’s elements in place, then add product images, descriptions, and prices, and set up a shopping cart.

• No rent, no fixed working hours. Unlike brick-and-mortar stores, with e-commerce software, you don’t need to rent costly space and employ people to sell your products. You just need to pay a monthly fee for an e-commerce system. In addition, your online store is open 24 hours every day. It is also totally automated, so you don’t need to constantly monitor your store.

• E-commerce software offers an easy, high-quality shopping experience. Customers can easily choose products, place orders, and pay with a convenient online payment system.

• An e-commerce software provides you with a global market for your products. You can reach anyone, anytime, from any location.

5. Payment Processing Software

Payment processing software allows your company to manage expenses, gain insights into customers’ spending habits, offer rewards based on customers’ buying behaviors, and generate digital bills.

Payment processing software connects e-commerce websites with other payment systems via a virtual terminal and provides a secure platform where users can add their bank or card details. Two good examples of payment processing software are Xero and FreshBooks.

Main benefits of payment processing software:

• Improved security and a minimized risk of fraud

• Reduced expenses by cutting on staff in the billing and invoicing department

• Enhanced customer relations as a result of needing less time to fix errors

• Increased cash flow

• Extensive reports about purchases, inventory, and sales to improve decision-making.

Final Thoughts

Are you ready to choose the best software for your retail business?

If your goal is to improve increase your team’s efficiency by automating business processes and customer shopping experience, go through the above-suggested solutions and determine which one best suits your company’s needs.

What is the Fastest Way to Get Funding for a Business?

Small business funding is a critical aspect of running and managing the finances of a small business.  Even with the best-laid plans and forecasts, there can be unexpected and urgent needs for financing when you are running a small business.  Having sufficient capital and the facility to manage these unexpected needs, preserve cash flow, and continue business operations uninterrupted can be the difference between success and failure.  When time is of the essence, you want to find fast small business funding options, that get you the small business funding you need right away.  You don’t have days or weeks to wait for money, after all. 

Below, we’ll explore different aspects of small business funding, and highlight some of the best ways to obtain fast small business funding – including business funding with bad credit.  We’ll look at secured vs. unsecured small business funding, fast merchant cash advances (often the best choice for getting access to cash ASAP), and also examine how to get a small business loan, a more traditional form of fast small business funding.  We’ll address some related questions, and highlight BizFly Funding, one of the best choices of lenders for fast merchant cash advances, fast small business funding, and quick and easy approvals in the US market.  

Unsecured Small Business Funding – The Fastest Choice

The first topic to consider when you need fast small business funding is whether to choose secured or unsecured funding options.  Secured funding – whether loans, lines of credit, or other financial products – requires you to put up collateral in order to secure the loan, and guarantee repayment to the lender.  This usually offers you a lower interest rate, since there’s less risk for the lender.  However, there is a considerable risk for you as the borrower.  If you default on the loan, the collateral will be forfeit.  Given the way collateral is valued, at fair market rates rather than what you paid, you can often end up having to put up collateral valued at 3 to 5 times the amount you are borrowing.  That can be a hefty loss to swallow if things go badly.

At the same time, secured small business funding options are usually not very fast ways to get the money you need.  The process of evaluating the value of collateral for a secured loan means the process can drag on for quite some time.  These downsides are why many small business owners in need of fast small business funding prefer unsecured financing, with no collateral requirements.  While the interest rates tend to be a bit higher, reflecting the higher risk on the part of the lender, they are much quicker to obtain for the borrower.  Fast merchant cash advances, small business loans, and other unsecured small business funding products are often the lowest risk and quickest way to go when you need cash fast for your small business. 

Merchant Funding – Fast Merchant Cash Advances

One of the fastest small business funding options of the unsecured variety is merchant funding via a fast merchant cash advance.  Merchant cash advances are a somewhat different form of small business funding, that straddle the line between a conventional small business loan and something altogether different in terms of how they work.  You receive the fast merchant cash advance proceeds up front, as cash or electronic transfers, just like with a loan.  But rather than having to pay back that amount with interest based on a fixed calendar schedule, the repayment is dynamic and automatic.  It’s based on the credit and debit card sales that your small business makes.  Therefore, the repayment term is variable, and the repayment itself is responsive to your sales. 

You won’t owe more than your sales revenue can support, since if you do less in sales, your repayment amount is less.  It’s an agreed-upon percentage of your credit and debit card sales.  This is one of the key benefits of merchant cash advances.  The drawback is that the interest rate (called a factor rate when it comes to a merchant cash advance) is typically higher than a conventional small business loan or other fast small business funding options.  That’s what you pay for the privilege of a responsive and dynamic repayment option, since the lender has less ability to know when they will receive their full repayment and interest due.  But if you need cash fast, and don’t want to be on the hook for a fixed amount of repayment, and do most of your business via credit and debit card sales, it’s hard to beat a fast merchant cash advance as a source of funding for your small business. 

Other Options – How to Get a Small Business Loan

Merchant cash advances aren’t the only source of fast small business funding, however.  Depending on your lender and how they operate, you can often obtain small business loans as a form of fast small business funding.  Most people automatically think that any kind of loan will take days, weeks, or months to complete.  Mountains of paperwork is the first thing that comes to mind – lots and lots of forms that do nothing but take up your time, and then you play the waiting game to find out if you’re approved, and for how much.  All of that waiting, paperwork, and time can cost you valuable money, and cause your small business to miss out on opportunities.  As we said at the start of this guide, when you need cash fast for your business, you don’t have time to wait around.

When you choose a non-bank, private, alternative lender, you can often obtain small business loans on a much faster schedule.  Indeed, top lenders like BizFly Funding can help you with fast small business funding with a lot less paperwork and stress, thanks to an online application process.  You can get pre-approved in just 30 minutes, and be approved for a small business loan in just hours.  Many customers can receive their small business funding by the next business day! 

So, how do you get a small business loan from BizFly Funding?  It’s very easy.  Just visit https://bizflyfunding.com, and fill out the online application.  One of their exceptional customer service team members will get back to you shortly, and within a few hours (for the vast majority of clients), you can be approved for as much as $1m in fast small business funding, available in your bank account the next business day!

Frequently Asked Questions about Small Business Funding

Do I need a down payment for a business loan?

Unsecured small business loans do not require a down payment of any kind, nor do they require collateral.  You simply have to meet the minimum eligibility requirements set up by the lender, fill out the online application, and provide the requested information and documentation about your business. 

Can I get a business loan with a 700 credit score?

Most of the non-bank, private lenders, like BizFly Funding, offer a range of fast small business funding products, and options for business funding with bad credit.  Bad credit small business loans, for example, can be obtained with credit scores significantly less than 700.  You should have no trouble qualifying for most of the different kinds of fast small business funding at BizFly Funding with a credit score of 700 or greater.  Companies with credit scores as low as 500 can still qualify for several of the small business funding products available from BizFly Funding. 

How to qualify for a small business loan?

At BizFly Funding, the minimum eligibility requirements for a small business loan stipulate that you have a credit score of at least 500, have been in business for at least 6 months, and generate at least $10,000 in monthly revenue.  The revenue requirements may be higher for larger loan amounts.  But provided you meet those minimum requirements, you have an excellent chance of approval for a small business loan. 

Where is the best place to get a business loan?

Private, non-bank lenders are the best choice for business loans, especially fast small business funding.  They can take on more small business clients, and tolerate greater risk than banks and traditional financial institutions.  They often have fewer hoops to jump through, resulting in the ability to provide truly fast small business funding in 24-48 hours, compared to weeks or months with banks.  BizFly Funding is one of those lenders, offering funds available within 1 business day to companies who qualify. 

How can I get a first time business loan?

Whether it’s your first small business loan, or your seventh, the requirements to qualify at BizFly Funding are the same.  Just meet the minimum credit score, time in business, and revenue requirements, and apply online.  You’ll get fast service, and have your answer for fast small business funding for your business. 

Small Business Funding Options from BizFly Funding

BizFly Funding is one of the premiere non-bank private lenders in the industry today.  They exclusively focus on providing small business funding solutions in the US.  Whether you need a fast merchant cash advance, are wondering how to get a small business loan, or are seeking some other form of fast small business funding, BizFly Funding has a solution that will work for you.  It’s easy to qualify for most of the merchant funding options at BizFly Funding, the application is digital, fast, and easy, and you’ll receive outstanding service from the BizFly Funding team. 

How to Increase Your Credit Score After a Bankruptcy Discharge

After undergoing a hard time due to debts and it becomes clear that you may not manage to settle all of them because of losses incurred or loss of livelihood, you may apply for bankruptcy. This is a legal process that enables debtors to be relieved from all or some of their debts. In most of the jurisdictions, bankruptcy is usually enforced by a court order, normally initiated by the debtor. Bankruptcy discharge relieves the debtor from being legally required to pay the discharged debts.

Though filing for bankruptcy may mark the beginning of the journey to financial recovery and rebuilding your credit, you must put in some effort. You will also need to focus on the process and allow some reasonable time to realize the desired results.

Below are some ways that may assist you in repairing your credit after bankruptcy:

Scrutinize your credit report frequently to flag any errors

According to a Federal Trade Commission study in 2012, around 25 percent of American users spotted errors in their credit reports that may have negatively affected their credit rating. It is crucial to check your credit report frequently so that you can pick out any errors and dispute them. You should comb through your credit reports after discharge to ensure the following:

·         All of the accounts that were discharged are reported.

·         The balance for the discharged accounts is zero.

·         The date on which you filed for bankruptcy is correct.

You should follow the due process to dispute any errors you find in your report.

Get added as an authorized user on a well-performing account

While you could get a close friend or relative to add you as an authorized user to their credit card account, this may not always be possible since you may lack a person that is willing to do so. This is where credit repair experts come in to help you to get seasoned tradelines at a fee. Repair firms will find accounts with a good history and timely repayment patterns so that you can be added to them as an authorized user. You can then ride on their positive history, which will boost your score and enable you to use your card in your name. You can click over here now to learn more on how credit boosting works.

Go for products suited to your circumstances

Although your pre-bankruptcy borrowing and repayment patterns may paint you out as a very risky borrower, you can seek to assure the lenders that you will meet your obligations. The following products can help you to improve your score while you also get the much-needed financing:

·         Secured credit card: This is secured by the deposit that you pay. Normally, the credit limit will be equal to the amount of deposit. The disadvantages of this card are that it may have annual charges and attract high interest rates. However, you will not have it for a long time and you can use it to repair your credit until you can qualify for a less expensive unsecured card.

·         Secured loan: This may be either in one of two kinds. You may get a loan against some deposited amount which will not be accessible to you before repaying the loan. The other kind does not need cash upfront, but the loan amount is placed in a savings account and is only accessible to you after making the required payments. In return, the lender offers to send your payment history report to the credit bureaus.

·         Co-signed loan or credit card: This involves getting a friend or relative with an impressive score who can agree to co-sign for you. The co-signer will be held liable in case you default and may experience limits on their borrowing due to the additional debt. One has to be careful because co-signing can damage relationships if the borrower defaults.

The Bottom Line

After a bankruptcy discharge, the most critical thing is winning back the lenders' trust by showing them that you plan to meet your obligations as agreed. You can do this through such facilities like secured loans and cards. You also need to pay on time and keep your balances low relative to the credit limit, not more than 30%. It is also critical to keep an eye on your credit report to dispute any errors that may hurt your credit score.

Finding a Profitable Forex Broker: A New Guide for Retail Forex Traders

Whether you’re a new retail Forex broker or a veteran FX trader who needs to device new strategies, you need to minimize your risks and maximize your trading success.

Beyond learning the trading techniques, you need to find and focus on one single Forex broker who will help you win in the marketplace. This is a very important part of your Forex trading, and you need to get it right. Those retail Forex traders that work with many different FX brokers lose a lot of time and resources because they fail to find the right broker that will help them succeed.

“But…” you ask. “How do I get the right Forex broker?” “How can I tell if a broker is legit or not?” In fact, what key features should I look for in an FX broker?”

Let’s jump right in to answer your questions.

Credibility.

Retail Forex traders work with many different FX brokers because they can’t find an answer to this simple question:

What’s the difference between a legitimate broker and a fraudulent one? Well, one thing is for sure: You can’t tell if a broker is legit simply because they have a fancy company name or a beautiful website.

It’s much more than that. Fake online companies invest so much money on branding and digital ads to deceive innocent traders, ripe them off of their hard-earned money. Before you trust a broker with your money, you need to do a thorough review.

You need to check their portfolio. You need to dig their history. Check whether the broker is a member of a regulatory body.

Membership of a regulatory speaks volumes about a broker’s credibility.

·      If your potential broker is based in the U.S., find out if he’s a member of the National Futures Association (NFA) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

·      If your potential broker is based in the U.K., find out if he’s a member of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).

·      If your potential broker is based in Switzerland, find out if he’s a member of the Swiss Federal Banking Commission (SFBC).

It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to find a credible broker. The goal is to find the one that can help you succeed without draining your savings.

Cost.

 “Forget about the cost,” some new traders would say. “Just focus on finding a professional broker.”

While partnering with a professional, Forex broker is essential; cost is also an important factor that retail Forex traders should consider. Some retail Forex traders work with many different FX brokers and end up at loss because they don’t consider the costs. Everything has to be well-balanced or you won’t reap the rewards of your efforts.

For instance, as a Forex trader, when you enter a trade, you know for sure that you have to pay for the spread or a commission. If you don’t work with a cost-effective broker, you’re not going to make money. And your trading days will be numbered!

To increase the life-span of your trading in the FX market, look for brokers that are cost-effective. In fact, look for innovative traders that offer other perks. “Innovative brokers will allow you to access most areas of the capital markets through a single forex account,” ConnectFX’s Gino D’Alessio says. “Some offer trades on major and minor currency pairs, commodities, precious metals, [to mention but a few].”

But that’s not enough. On top of that, you should also strive to find a broker with effective customer service.

Customer service.

Amateur traders might not even think of customer service when they embark on a journey to finding a profitable Forex broker.

Yet, Forex trading requires 24/7 customer service. Opening an FX account is not as easy as signing up on Facebook. Support from a customer care agent can help smooth out the challenges in the process.

A number of retail forex traders work with many different FX brokers in search of a trusted one. You need to work with a reliable FX trader that will walk you through the many hiccups in your trading journey.

In addition, with the growing challenges of the Web, such as the multiple numbers of scammers and Internet fraudsters, you need a competent broker with active customer care support. Remember: In October of 2015, some cybercriminals hacked the FXCM account and transfer huge sums of money. That said, it’s important to take measures (partner with FX brokers that have great customer care service) so you won’t be alone if you’re attacked.

The bottom line.

Not all brokers are worth their salt. That’s why you need to invest more time to find the right one. Beyond an expensive logo, you need to analyze your potential FX broker, answer “Yes” to the following questions:

·      Is the broker a member of a regulatory Forex body?

·      Are they cost-effective?

·      Is their customer service reliable?

Of course, answering “Yes” to all these questions requires thorough research and reviews. But you’ve got to do it if you want a successful start. Because “To trade forex, you need an online broker,” expert Forex trader Steven Hatzakis says. And “Trading with a trusted forex broker is crucial for success in international currency markets.”

Top 6 Instagram Hacks to Make Your Life Easier

Having a perfect Instagram takes a lot of work and energy.  There’s a lot that you have to do to keep up that perfect image you’ve got going on.  But just when you thought you were always going to have to struggle with some things, we’re here to tell you that that’s just not true!  There are so many little tricks to using Instagram that we picked out the top 5.  Influencers are increasingly turning to a service called SocialCaptain. Check out this SocialCaptain write-up.

1) Get Notifications For Your Favorite Accounts

Keeping up with every account you follow can be tough.  It can be even more challenging when you’re following a hundred or so accounts.  You lose your friends’ posts in the rush of other posts, but there’s ways around that with little features in Instagram.

Getting notifications is really quite simple.  All you have to do is visit the account you want to get notifGetting notifications is really quite simple.  All you have to do is visit the account you want to get notifications from and click the three dots in the top right corner.  A menu will pop up, and one of the options is to get notifications from this account. It’s really that simple.

2) Reorder Your Filter List

When you’re tired of scrolling all the way through the list of filters just to get to your favorite at the end, there’s a trick that will make it easier than ever to use your favorite filters.

The next time you upload or take a picture and edit it, scroll all the way to the end of the filter list.  There is an icon labeled manage.

Once you’re in the list, you can take off filters you don’t like and reorder the filters, so your favorites come first.

3) Add Multiple Accounts

Personal accounts, super personal accounts, professional accounts…the different kinds of Instagram accounts out there are endless.  And you don’t want to have to log in to an account every time you use it. Don’t fret; there’s an option in the settings menu that will allow you to have multiple accounts on the same phone.

Once you find it, you just have to log in and then you’ll be able to access all of your accounts from one phone.

4) Filter And Turn Off Comments

Sometimes, you just don’t need to see the comments.  That’s something that Instagram is prepared for. You can turn off comments on individual pictures from the menus that come up just before you post a photo.  You can also turn off comments on pictures that are already posted.

But if there’s an individual subject coming up that you need to keep out of your head, you can go to settings and block out specific keywords.  

5) Buy Instagram Likes To Your Photos

Did you know you could get up to 10x the exposure and engagement by reaching the explore feed/tab? One of the easiest ways to reach the explore page is to buy Instagram likes to your photos. For the best results, use services like Buzzoid.com - who have been around for years and can reliably deliver real Instagram likes to your photos in minutes.

6) Hide Photos You Are Tagged In

When someone else posts a picture, you don’t have the final say in what they’re showing.  Even if it’s your best friend, they may post a picture that you just think you look terrible in.  Well, there’s an easy way to control which pictures show up as photos of you.

If you go into the photos of you section from your profile, you will see any pictures of you that are out there.  From there, you click the option menu in the top right.

You can hide photos that are already there, and you can change how tagging works for you.  If you go into the Tagging Options menu, you will be able to change how photos are added. If you don’t want every photo just going there, you just click Add Manually.  This will let you pick and choose what you show of yourself.

Vapes And Puff Bars: 3 Advantages That You need To Know About

Photo by Antonin FELS on Unsplash

You hear about it all over the news. You see a lot of people using it. You might have even read about its harmful effects on the internet. We're talking about alternative forms of smoking. Whether it's through vape or e-cigarettes, the potential for health benefits and a business perspective is quite significant.

Traditionally, cigarettes are the choice of smokes for a person. However, the introduction of products such as vapes, puff bars, e-cigs, juices, and other accessories are making popular rounds all over the world. Let's get one thing straight though, vapes and other similar devices won't ever replace cigarettes.

To be fair, cigarette smokers and companies shouldn't feel threatened about the emergence of vape-related products. Users on both sides have experiences that simply don't need to clash with each other, as they are unique and both pleasurable in their own right. However, always take into consideration that everything in excess is harmful, and vapes aren't exceptions.

Since vapes are relatively new on the market, a lot of people will have questions. It's only fair that we shed light on some of the benefits you can enjoy from using these types of products. Without further ado, here are some advantages you need to know about when using vapes and e-cigarettes.

A Healthier Lifestyle

The number one benefit that every vape user will tell you is that vapes are healthier than traditional cigarettes or pipes. Some even claim that vapes are virtually hazard-free due to the mechanisms and complexity these small devices have.

Although much research has to be done to zero out the health hazards of using vape safely, a lot of people swear by its safe use. And when we say "a lot of people," we mean vast numbers of the population. These facts are just hard to ignore. To have a more intricate look at what health benefits most vape users are clamoring about, let's take a look at the compositions of both cigarettes and vapes (and other related devices as well).

Both vapes and cigarettes have nicotine with them(more on that later). However, the chemicals that are in cigarettes are far too harmful than what you can find in vapes. For example, one unburnt, single cigarette stick can contain 600 ingredients. It goes even higher when you light a stick.  Burning a single stick creates up to 7,000 chemicals.

Out of those 7,000 chemicals, 69 are known carcinogens. A carcinogen is any substance that can cause cancer. Some of these chemicals are:

●           Acetone - Used as a nail polish remover

●           Lead - Used in batteries

●           Tar - Used for pavements

●           Formalin - a.k.a Formaldehyde or embalming liquid

●           Carbon monoxide - Found in the smoke of cars

●           Arsenic - Potent rat poison

●           Ammonia - Industrial-strength cleaning fluid

With all these chemicals circulating in a single cigarette stick towards your whole respiratory system, one can imagine how much harm these chemicals can do. Imagine inhaling fumes from a car? Or how about inhaling embalming fluid? The other 6,931 chemicals might not be harmful, but more research is needed to say that it can or cannot harm a human body. That's 6,931 more risks that some people aren't willing to take.

You might say that the argument in this article is one-sided because of the facts you read. However, let's get something established. Vaping and its other related activities aren't 100% risk-free, but it is way safer compared to smoking a cigarette.

As mentioned earlier, both vapes and cigarettes have nicotine in them. Nicotine is a naturally occurring substance produced by certain plants. It is a stimulant and can be highly addictive if not controlled. In most high-end cigarettes, the nicotine content can be high as 28mg, well above the prescribed level.

In vapes and other similar devices such as a puff bar, the mechanisms of the device allow the user to inhale controlled amounts of nicotine. What's more, these devices don't burn the nicotine as with cigarettes. Burning nicotine creates a lot of chemical reactions that release all the harmful chemicals associated with smoking. With vapes, it only heats the nicotine, which then becomes vapor, which can be safely inhaled.

More Affordable

A pack of cigarettes often costs $6. Puff bars are regularly priced at $7. Vapes and a single bottle of its juice can cost up to $60. You might say that cigarettes are cheaper than these alternatives; however, do remember that cigarette sticks are single use only. Most seasoned smokers can consume a single pack every day. A month's expenses on cigarettes can amount to a whopping $186. Imagine how much costs are when you've been smoking for years.

A $7 puff bar can be used up to 200 times. A vape is a one time purchase which you can use whenever you like. In vapes, you only need 1ml of juice to produce 100 puffs. Juices aren't that expensive, as most 30ml bottles are priced at $7 or even less.

More Varieties

There are markets for designer lighters and cigarettes, and a lot of people often collect them for their aesthetics. However, vapes and other devices can look just as cool. In fact, these devices are highly customizable. You can buy several parts to improve a vape's performance and looks. It's really up to the user if he or she wants a whole new experience with their vapes by customizing them.

And the variety doesn't stop with device parts. Although there are also cigarette flavors widely available, the choices with juices or liquids are numerous. Here are some flavors that you can get with juices:

●           Cucumber

●           Mango

●           Strawberry

●           Blueberry

●           Grape

●           Lychee

●           Pomegranate

●           Coffee

●           Chocolate

●           Vanilla

Some juice producers even have unique flavors such as cheesecake and pizza as flavors for their vapes. If you want a new experience with vaping, then you can try out these flavors.

Takeaway

As you can see, vaping and its other devices clearly have an advantage over cigarettes. For one, it's much safer to vape than to smoke. You avoid the chemicals created by burning a cigarette stick. It's also much cheaper to use puff bars and e-cigarettes.

Best of all, you can experience something unique and pleasurable due to the countless customizations you can do to your vaping devices. Even though the advantages are numerous, anything you do or consume in excess can be harmful. Enjoy vaping responsibly and live a healthy lifestyle to go along with it.

How a Business Loan Can Help Start Your Business

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Starting a small business can be tough, especially if you are having problems with your capital. As a starting entrepreneur, you need to find ways to finance your start-up business from the start and for its long term survival.

The first place you might look into is the bank. If you tried it yourself, you must’ve realized by now that it is not that easy to apply for a business loan. However, applying for a business loan can prove to be tough as there are a lot of prerequisite requirements, documents, and other things you need to procure to get approved.

But still, a lot of rookie entrepreneurs try because getting approved for a business loan is very beneficial for one’s business. Although there are a lot of other ways for newbies to find funds, they prefer a business loan because of the benefits and the amount it will lend to them.

Reasons to apply for a business loan

There are several reasons why people apply for a business loan. They may ask for it to borrow funds to maintain their base operations, open a new branch somewhere, or merely invest in new equipment. Another reason people consider applying for a business loan is that some banks’ prerequisite requirements are not simple and very easy to procure.

Lenders, more often than not, will let a client borrow money from them if they have a stable profit, good business potential, or have a credit score of more than 720. Arguably, the most typical reason young entrepreneurs apply for a loan is that the money they can get from it can be added for their capital.

Benefits of a business loan

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There are a lot of benefits that you can consider when applying for a business loan. One of these is that the repayment terms can be flexible and convenient for starting a business. Of course, this can vary depending on the lender.

Also, lenders like CreditNinja has a very accessible and easier way to apply for a loan than most banks. Some lenders also make small loans without any collateral at all, making it easy for small businesses to apply for a loan.

You should determine your wants and needs in terms of your business before going for a loan. Also, you can check the terms and conditions of the lender to see if there are points that you can consider disadvantageous for your business. 

Types of loans

●           Working capital loans. Working capital loans are your go-to solution if your business needs revenue to continue its operations. Its main advantage is for small businesses to keep their operations while looking for new cash flow or simply increase their revenue for a little bit. The drawback of this loan is that it has a higher interest rate and shorter repayment terms.

●           Equipment loans. This type of loan is made by businesses that have an urgent need for new and additional equipment such as machinery, vehicles, and tools. Instead of paying upfront for the repayment, the business would be paying monthly for the equipment. Also, equipment loans are easier to be approved since the lender can just take the equipment that is leased or purchased as collateral.

●           Professional practice loans. This type of loan is designed primarily for professionals that provide specific services such as engineers, healthcare, legal, accounting, etc. One of the reasons for applying for this loan is typically for purchasing office equipment, renovations, and refinancing debt.

Takeaway

The benefits of a business loan that is mentioned above are just some of the typical benefits you can get in the approval of a loan. Of course, every lender has a scheme or some perks that will entice young entrepreneurs to get to apply for a loan to them. Always remember to check the terms and conditions of the loan as it could go a long way.