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Low-Cost Ways to Promote Your Supplement Business

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Supplement nutrition is one of the quickest-growing markets in the world. Driven by the wellness industry, an aging population, better brand positioning, and a proliferation of private labels with high-quality products, McKinsey reports that the supplement industry “is now valued at $82 billion, with roughly 28 percent of that in the US, where sales increased by approximately $6 billion between 2007 and 2012.” Entrepreneurs are jumping on the bandwagon, but the increase of supplement options have made it hard to stand out. According to the Nutrition Business Journal‘s 2018 Supplement Business Report, supplement manufacturers rated the three most challenging aspects of online retail as challenges of online retail as “driving awareness of product, navigating Amazon, and standing out.”

If you are in the private label supplements business, you need to find ways to draw attention in a crowded field while not cutting into your bottom line. Here are three promotional strategies that won’t break the bank.

Get in the swag game

People love free stuff. That is the reason why people walk away from conferences — and the Oscars — with bags full of goodies. Not only does it ingratiate consumers to a product or entity, but free stuff serves as a constant, tiny reminder of that business in their lives. If you want to stand out in the crowded field of supplement nutrition, one easy way is to do so is to have memorable swag. Folders and hats are great, but consider getting branded promotional material with a wellness angle, like stress balls, branded yoga mats, or reusable straws. Another idea you should consider is to offer promotional pens. When you ship your goods to customers, something as small as a pen can easily fit in an Amazon box or USPS shipping envelope. Promotional pens are also great to have around the office for your own use, or as a favor when business customers drop by. High-quality pens can last for years, making them some of the most durable and convenient pieces of swag.

Hit the conference circuit

In any field, your connections to buyers and fellow manufacturers can mean the difference between the life and death of your business. National and international conferences offer you a chance to find new clients and vendors, growing your network and thereby strengthening your business. Conferences also offer opportunities for career and professional development. The Center for Responsible Nutrition’s 2018 conference offered workshops on the human microbiome, pregnancy nutrition, and government regulation. Pursuing this type of continuing education gives you the chance to better position yourself in a changing field. Science and supplement nutrition are inextricably linked. If you have staked your livelihood on the second, you don’t want to be left behind by the first. Furthermore, you have a communication opportunity when you are tracking the latest info. As such, you can ensure your customers and buyers that their health is in informed and trustworthy hands.

Utilize your expertise

If you run a supplement company, chances are you know a lot about supplements. One of the ways you can stand out is by taking that knowledge public. Maintaining a blog is a well-known way to gain interest and juice your SEO, but today’s video-centric ‘net holds opportunities as well. Consider hosting webinars on a free platform like Google Hangouts. Webinars can, admittedly, be tricky — you do not want to bore anybody, and you want to offer genuine knowledge. But if you offer people something of value, webinars can be a very rewarding lead generation tool. The same goes with online video: Creating a series for Youtube could land you a following of people interested in your area of expertise, and people are more willing to trust purchases made by an expert.

The Dos and Don’ts of Allowing a Pet-Friendly Workplace

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Everyone loves the idea of bringing their furry friend to work, and it seems that employers are catching on. While it might be difficult to bring in cats or rabbits, more offices than ever are implementing dog-friendly policies for the benefit of their employees. In fact, studies have shown that dog-friendly workplaces are great at reducing stress, boosting workplace morale, and improving employee retention rates. It’s estimated that 81 percent of employees report that a dog policy makes them more loyal to their company. 

Better yet, a dog-friendly workplace is an attractive culture-improving effort which appeals to new employees. In an increasingly competitive job market, introducing dogs to your office is a great way to stand out from the crowd. 

If you’re one of the many employers who are thinking of implementing a dog-friendly workplace, here are some of the dos and don’ts you should follow.

Do: Make sure your workplace can accommodate dogs

This is, perhaps, one of the most important points on the list. If your landlord or property manager doesn’t allow dogs in the office, you could be putting your entire company at risk by bringing in man’s best friend. Once you’re sure that dogs are allowed in the building, however, you also need to ascertain your workplace is suitable for dogs. 

For example, it’s far easier — and safer — to bring dogs into an office setting than a restaurant or factory setting. Dogs are typically seen in office environments where employees need a break from the monotony of the computer screen. Because there are no sharp objects or workplace hazards, a mellow work environment is the best option to keep your furry friends safe. You may also want to consider the size of your office and the layout of your furniture. A little extra planning goes a long way when you want dogs to feel welcomed. 

Don’t: Neglect paperwork

Creating a dog-friendly workplace takes a lot of planning. Before you can bring pets into the office, you need to ready insurance forms, employee agreements, and written rules regarding workplace etiquette. 

At the end of the day, allowing dogs in your workplace is a liability issue. While the responsibility of the dog’s actions rests on the shoulders of the owner, you need to do everything you can to keep your employees safe. Most employers demand that dogs are up-to-date on their shots, are comfortable in crowds, and lack a history of aggression. Between dog bites and dog fights, any number of accidents can happen. It’s essential that have paperwork that defines clear expectations. 

Do: Invest in cleaning services 

Even the most well-trained dogs can have an accident from time to time. Hiring cleaning services might seem overboard for the small business owner, but preventing damage should be one of your company’s top priorities. When your company’s appearance starts to suffer, your employees’ morale will drop, the safety of the dogs is put in jeopardy, and you’ll end up paying more in the long run. 

When you start a dog-friendly workplace, you should invest in regular cleaning services. This includes frequent vacuuming, regular mopping, and the carpet cleaning Orlando experts to get the job done right. This will help prevent damage to the carpet and the floor underneath it. Without maintaining the quality of your workplace, you might need to pay for repairs down the line. 

Once you achieve these goals, then you can start investing in the fun stuff. Be sure to provide plenty of toys (ones that don’t squeak!), brushes, water bowls, lint rollers, and any other supplies you think your office might need. You should also invest in a few gates and pens to block off areas where you don’t want your dogs to go. 

Starting a dog-friendly workplace can do wonders for your office culture. When you’re ready to welcome dogs into your company, be sure to follow these tips.

Useful Items that I keep in my Office

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If you’re currently looking for tips on designing your workspace, continue reading to discover some of the unique items which I currently keep in my office.

  1. A classic monogrammed leather agenda

As I prefer to use a traditional agenda to jot down my appointments, meetings and tasks, I use a classic yet sophisticated monogrammed leather agenda to jot down all of my business related appointments. I love the fact that even if my smart phone runs out of battery, or if I leave it in the car, I still have access to all of my important appointment details.

  1. A spacious four drawer filing cabinet

In order to keep all of my business related documents in the right place, I use a large, four drawer filing cabinet in order to keep my documents neatly stored away. Having a filing cabinet like the ones from Furniture at Work, right next to my desk also ensures that my desk remains tidy and isn’t cluttered with documents, folders and random pieces of paper.

  1. A medium sized cork board

I use a medium sized cork board on my office wall in order to pin important pieces of paper, that I don’t want to lose. As an example, I often pin business related letters that I’ve received in the mail on my cork board, such as invitations to industry events.

  1. A one of a kind, piece of art

To add a bit of color into my office, I asked my friend whose a talented artist to paint me a one of a kind piece of art which I could proudly display on my office wall. Not only does the painting my friend created for me, which depicts a sunny beach brighten up my room but it also makes me smile each time I look at it as it was painted by a friend and is a one of a kind, unique painting.

If you are also lucky enough to have a friend or family member who is a talented artist, it’s also well worth asking your loved one if they’d be happy to make something special for your office.

  1. Floating shelves

A the recommendation of a friend, I decided to hang floating shelves on the wall behind my work desk. On each shelf I display trinkets which have a special place in my heart. As examples, some of the items which are currently displayed on my floating shelves include framed family photographs, a vase which was made by my niece and a couple of my favorite travel souvenirs.

  1. Fresh flowers

Not only do fresh flowers make my office a more inviting space to spend time in but the flowers which I display in my office also give my office a fresh, natural aroma. If you don’t want to pay for fresh flowers on a regular basis, you can also opt to purchase a small pot plant, which will provide you with fresh flowers for months to come.

Hopefully you were inspired to decorate your perfect workspace by reading about some of the amazing items which I have used to decorate my office!

How to Start Selling Milk Tea for a Living

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If you are seeking a new business opportunity, you might want to try selling cold beverages for a change. You may have noticed that many small shops are selling refreshing drinks such as milk teas, fruit shakes and speciality iced coffee and most of them have been doing good for the past few years. Here are some basic steps on how to set up your very own milk tea shop.

Pick the right location

Your business has more chance of succeeding if you have a great location. It is important for people to notice your business right away; that is why you should scout for a place near prominent universities, inside shopping malls or within the commercial business district where you can expect a steady stream of customers.

Make your place look attractive

If you have a physical store, renovate the area to make it look more inviting to your customers. You can add a couple of comfortable chairs, couches and tables so your customers can enjoy hanging out at your place more often. Do not forget to promote your best selling products by placing a couple of rollerbanners around the area. The first thing that new customers will enquire about is the best-selling drinks, so make sure that they are visible. The more attractive your place looks, the more chances of winning the hearts of your customers.

If you cannot afford to rent a bigger space, there is no need to worry because you can always start small. Food carts or kiosks are popular business alternatives. You just need to make sure that your location is accessible to bigger crowds. The advantage of getting a smaller space is that the rent is more affordable; also, you only need to hire at least one or two employees, making the daily operational costs more affordable.

Create a speciality product

If you want your business to thrive, it has to be something that will set you apart from your competitors. Spend time in developing your recipes and menu because you have to serve your customers something new that will make them come back for more.

Watch out for seasonal drinks because the majority of customers would like to go with the fad, and they will find a way to have a taste of whatever cold drink is trending in the market. Even though some of these products are only popular for a short period of time it contributes a lot in generating more sales.

You also want to make sure that you are always on the lookout for better products that you can offer your clients. Always be open to changes and innovation because it opens more room for growth.

Before deciding to get into a business, you have to make sure that you are ready to commit your time, money and effort in making this venture successful. You also need to prepare yourself for the challenges that await you and keep fighting for your dreams.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

6 Brilliant Budgeting Tips

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In order to ensure that you don’t blow your monthly budget, it’s well worth continuing reading to discover 6 brilliant budgeting tips, which are guaranteed to make budgeting a little simpler.

6 Brilliant Budgeting Tips:

1. Don’t go shopping with your friends in order to socialize

If you frequently shop with your close friends as a form of socializing, it’s well worth meeting your friends for a walk instead or inviting your friends to socialize at your home as if you shop with friends you’re far more likely to make impulse purchases which you don’t really need. As it’s highly likely that your friends will encourage you to purchase items that you’re tempted to purchase.

Instead, only purchase items such as clothes when you’re alone. As you won’t be tempted to give in to peer pressure or to shop simply to feel part of the group which you’re socializing with.

2. Increase your monthly savings each time that you get a raise

If you’re fortunate enough to get a raise at work, make sure to increase the amount of money which you put aside into your long-term savings account each month when you receive your disposable income. As if you’re earning more, you should be saving and investing more, not spending more.

3. Keep your long-term savings account and everyday account as different banks

While it may seem a little inconvenient to have your everyday bank account at a different bank to your long-term savings account, the truth is that if you have both accounts at the same bank, you’ll be far more likely to transfer money from your long-term savings account to your everyday account on a regular basis. Which will have a horrendous effect on the balance of your long-term savings account.

4. Don’t feel pressured to stick to the exact same budget all year long

Many individuals make the mistake of assuming that they should stick to the same budget all year long. However, the truth is that no two months are alike and some months will incur large expenses which are out of the ordinary, so don’t be afraid to reassess your budget at the end of each month.

5. If you have a partner, make sure to budget together

There’s no point writing up a detailed, carefully thought out budget if your partner is likely to blow your mutual funds on extravagant luxuries, that you never agreed to spend money on. So it’s definitely a wise idea to sit down with your partner each month to create a monthly budget together.

However, arguments can arise if you try to budget your personal disposable income as a couple. So it’s a great idea to ensure that you both have a monthly personal allowance which you can both spend as you see fit! As even in a long-term relationship, it’s still important for couples to have a degree of healthy independence.

6. Ensure that your most important bills are paid automatically

Set up direct debits to ensure that your most important bills are paid in full each month via handy automatic payments.

So if you’d love to make budgeting a little simpler, it’s well worth testing out the six brilliant budgeting tips listed above.

6 Useful Lifestyle Tips

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In order to make sure that your everyday life is as stress-free as possible, continue reading to discover a list of useful lifestyle tips, that you’ll wish you read about sooner.

6 Useful lifestyle tips:

1. Listen to white noise or ASMR in order to get to sleep each night

If you struggle to get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night and often feel sluggish as a result, you may want to try listening to white noise or to ASMR videos in order to fall asleep and to stay asleep. As both types of sound have been scientifically proven to encourage your body to fall asleep.

2. Purchase a new mattress or bed

If listening to white noise or ASMR doesn’t help you achieve the quality of sleep which you desire, you may want to consider investing in purchasing a new mattress or a whole new bed. If the price of a brand new, high-end mattress makes you balk, think about the hours which you spend in bed each year and you’ll soon realize that investing in a high-quality bed is one of the best decisions which you can make.

3. Make sure to wash your sheets at least once a week in summer and twice a month in winter

It may seem silly but if you wash your sheets regularly, you’ll also find it far easier to fall asleep as nothing feels quite as good as hopping into a bed which boasts freshly washed sheets.

4. Prepare a few healthy homemade meals in the weekend, which you can then freeze

If you are often too tired to prepare healthy, nutritionally balanced meals on weeknights, you may want to get into the habit of creating healthy meals such as soups, stews, and vegetable lasagne, which you can then freeze and defrost later in the week. This is an exceptionally great idea if you are often too lazy to cook and often resort to purchasing unhealthy, calorie-laden takeaway meals.

5. Keep a weekend to-do list on your fridge

If you often mentally make a note of activities and tasks which you plan on getting around to in the weekend, such as maintenance on your house and you end up forgetting the tasks which you’ve set yourself by the time the weekend rolls around, it’s well worth keeping a weekend to-do list on your fridge.

As that way when you wake up on Saturday morning, you’ll be able to start work on checking off some of the items on your weekend to-do list! Alternatively, you can also create a note on your phone which lists all of the items which you plan to tackle in the weekend instead.

6. Always make a grocery list before you head out grocery shopping

Grocery stores are designed to sucker you in to purchase items that you don’t want or need. That’s why promotionally items are usually stocked on shelves which are at eye level. So it’s a worthwhile idea to make a habit out of writing a grocery list before each shopping trip.

If you incorporate all six of the simple lifestyle steps listed above, you’ll be sure to make your everyday life a little bit easier!