January 26, 2012
Filed under: Business equipment — admin @ 9:50 am
We take a tour through simple ideas for creating a great balance between work and play
When it comes to building a strong office environment – whether that office is nestled in your house or on the twentieth floor of a plexi-glass iron-plated building – there are certain principles which remain the same.
Underpinning the productive working environment is the atmosphere, the furniture and the attitude towards the work itself. All of these elements are essential considerations in building a space where individuals will be energised and excited to work.
For many of us, whether working with computers or on drawing boards, plain paper or hand-held devices, it is all about the right type of office desk. Ryman have a good range, and any large, central workspace is usually typified by a desk or table shape – so this piece of furniture is no insignificant thing. Take a look at their range by clicking the link.
Alongside considering the interior architecture of the office – separate offices? Cubicles? Huge open plan areas? – you also need to have a very careful eye on what kind of desk all this productive work is going to be done around.
Cool, raw untreated wooden tables and benches are gorgeous to look at – and perfect for a picnic – but you’ll have to consider the shape, height and comfort of such items if you are designing a trendy new office.
Will you have a lot of wires through the desk? Do you therefore need to consider having holes or gaps to accommodate them? It may be cheaper to buy several huge communal desks – but will this aid your work environment? Will it develop and stimulate your employees?
And what about lighting? This is an essential consideration. Many modern offices fail to take advantage of natural light. Many are built with huge amounts of glass and open windows – and then nullify this by utilising far too many blinds, creating dingy workspaces, which then necessitate glaring neons.
For more information on this important point read this useful article on how to achieve proper lighting in your home office.
December 16, 2011
Filed under: Business equipment — admin @ 4:51 pm
When purchasing new paper shredders for your office space, choosing the highest quality shredder, which can handle the heaviest work load, is highly important. If you and your business deal with important documents that contain clients’ information, names, addresses and other personal details then a paper shredder sis the only way to keep this information safe.
When using a paper shredder you can be rest assured that all the information is going to be destroyed safely. This will ensure that personal information will not fall into the wrong hands, protecting both your customers and the reputation of your business.
Comparing shredders
If you are looking to purchaser new paper shredders for your office, comparing various shredders will ensure that you choose the right one. You will want to compare how much work load they can handle by looking at how many sheets they are able to shred at once as well as how finely they can shred documents. The type of paper and materials that the shredder can handle should also be investigated.
You should also consider looking at shredders which are capable of handling tougher materials such as hard plastics or laminated forms and documents. The more powerful a shredder is, the more likely it is that it is going to be able to handle any job that you have for it.
When comparing paper shredders you will find models from several brands. You should take the time to read reviews about the shredders you are considering buying in order to ensure you find those that consumers find to be most effective. The better the reviews, the better the shredder. Always make sure you compare a number of shredders as the more shredders you compare, the better the chances that you will find the best one for you.
Comparing sizes
You should also consider industrial paper shredders versus smaller office shredders when making your choice. Where the shredder will be put to use and how often it will be used will determine what size it needs to be.
If you are unlikely to have a large quantity of documents to shred than an industrial shredder will not be a good use of your money. Instead, a smaller shredder will be able to do the job just as well and will ensure that you invest your money wisely. Shredders are available in a vast selection of styles and sizes, especially in the UK. Shredders are therefore a diverse product and provide consumers with a number of different aspects to consider.
Comparing cuts
The last thing that you should compare when purchasing a shredder is the type of cut that you get is over the type of cut. The cross-cut or confetti shredder is often considered to be the best as it produces small, square pieces of paper to provide ultimate security.
However, ribbon cut shredders are also available and cut paper into long, thin strips. These can still ensure data protection is provided and can therefore be useful in homes and offices.
October 26, 2011
Filed under: Business equipment — admin @ 10:12 am
An Advertorial Feature
Preparing for winter takes more than just turning on the heating and buying a few thermals. The weather can turn harsh in no time so it is a good idea to start stocking up on de-icer and salt spreaders. Every year, people are caught out by extreme weather conditions and therefore it is essential to equip your garage with a selection of winter essentials.
As the days get colder and the nights draw in, there has never been a better time to prepare for the season ahead. So, the next time you pull on your thick socks or winter coat remember to make a list of the things you need. Perhaps go down to the shed to check what is lurking around from last year and know exactly what you have to buy.
Health and safety website whatishealthandsafety.co.uk has recently reiterated just how important it is to prepare for the winter months. A spokesman for the site, Matt Hornsby, said many people aren’t prepared for harsh weather as they still believe it is a long way off. He went on to add that a little preparation would make the winter months a lot easier and safer.
Whatishealthandsafety.co.uk also made it very clear that we should take early winter precautions at work, as well as home. Hornsby said “companies can do a lot of things to make sure their premises do not become a hazard to employees, customers and visitors. Snow often falls on Britain without much warning so having a snow shovel and a grit spreader might makes sense.”
While seeing the first flakes of snow fall can be delightful, scrambling around to get your car out of the office car park is not so fun. Every year people risk personal injury trying to push their vehicle out of a snow drift, but with a snow shovel you could be safe rather than sorry. Being stranded in a place you don’t want to be is not fun, which is why it is good to be prepared for every eventuality.
If you are looking to buy items to control snow and ice quickly and cheaply, it would be a good idea to go online. Reputable companies such as Seton supply over 57,000 products which will be sent out to you in no time. So over the next few weeks it might be a good idea to get organised and start searching around for the things you need – before it’s too late.
October 7, 2011
Filed under: Business Advice,Business equipment — admin @ 4:26 pm
An Advertising Feature
Breaches over data protection have always been costly, both to individuals and businesses. However, with new legislation from the Information Commissioner imposing harsher penalties for those caught breaching the Data Protection Act, it could become more costly than ever.
Ensuring that documents are destroyed and stored correctly is a key concern for any business. The problem is that businesses handle such a large amount of documentation that it can often be easier for them to find information about others than it is to find their own. In fact, as much as one third of an information manager’s working life is spent trying to retrieve data and information on their own business. With this in mind, it’s no wonder there are breaches.
For businesses, inadequate document storage can therefore be a hindrance both to their own operations and to their pockets. This is because if documents are not stored correctly then security breaches can occur, something which could incur a fine of £500,000 thanks to the Information Commissioner’s new, harsher legislation.
Effective Management
For any business the key to avoiding data breaches is effective management. This needs to occur in both the physical and electronic realm in order to ensure ultimate security of data.
Electronic data now forms a prominent part of business meaning that electronic document management needs to be implemented throughout all business departments and systems. A number of online threats can present themselves across a working day and unsecured electronic data could be accessed if adequate protective measures are not taken. Any breaches in data security will lead to hefty fines and a ruined company reputation – something which will negatively impact the future performance of the company.
In terms of physical document management, the most important thing businesses need to do is implement a simple but effective procedure for storing documents and data. If this is done then companies will be able to retrieve and/or destroy documents with ease. This will prevent breaches, facilitate the operation of their business and prevent them from being £500,000 out of pocket.
Recovery and Disposal
Businesses often unwittingly breach procedures by shredding documentation they should be keeping or incorrectly storing sensitive information. This means that an effective management strategy is only half the battle when it comes to protecting data. Document recovery, or data capture, and document disposal form the other half.
Making sure that there is an efficient disaster recovery procedure in place can therefore help businesses to protect themselves against potential breaches. An easy to manage storage system will allow documents to be retrieved quickly, making the recovery of data far easier. Document storage should always be secure and businesses should invest the necessary time in developing a thorough management system for sorting and storing documents.
Any documents which need to be disposed of should always be shredded to prevent safety breaches occurring. Businesses should consider using specialised shredding services as these will offer professional and reliable document disposal in line with the new legislation.
August 25, 2011
Filed under: Business Advice,Business equipment — admin @ 2:43 pm
An Advertorial Feature
The majority of British businesses rely on their phone systems to survive. Whether you are a mechanics in Macclesfield; bakers in Birmingham; an architect in Aberdeen or a solicitor in Swansea: without a reliable phone line you can kiss your business good-bye.
Think about it. You use your phone a lot in any business, so whether you make or receive a lot of calls, the right phone system is very important.
As well as reliable phonelines it is increasingly important to think about costs when it comes to your phone system, too. Thanks to increased competition among major suppliers, as well as different phoneline options in the online age, there is no excuse for any business looking to keep costs down not to shop around and look into their options for sourcing cheap phone lines and calls.
But where do you start when it comes to ensuring you are getting the best deals for your business phone system? There are a number or issues that you need to think about before making a decision on what phone package is likely to be right for you.
To get the most out of your business phone packages you should consider the following:
• Are you going to make national or international calls? Whichever of these you will use most frequently should be the prime focus when it comes to choosing your phone package. Always select one which will offer you the best deals and rates for your type of use.
• What sort of budget do you have? Finances rule the business world so you should consider your budget before looking at phone packages. There are always competitive rates on offer but make sure that you invest in a good quality phone system that will offer stability and reliability alongside affordability. With so many offers available it is easy to find great offers.
Many business phone lines will come with a range of added features and benefits, such as: land line features; line rentals offered at lowered prices; calling bundles and extra features; highly affordable and competitive rates for call charges; and online billing.
Think about these attractive offers when considering your small business phone call needs. You can find more information and advice, including information about business broadband, here.
April 21, 2011
Filed under: Business equipment — admin @ 2:29 pm
An Advertorial Feature
The right office equipment can keep important documents and information safe from burglars or fraudsters.
Most people take action to protect their personal identity, but the same precautions are sometimes ignored in a business, often because there are so many people who are involved with sensitive material.
There are some tried and tested products which can help your business store these documents safely, and get rid of the ones you do not want to keep anymore.
Filing Products
Keeping the paper work in your office organised is the most important rule in preventing identity fraud. If you know where you can find a specific document then you will be able to quickly identify when it goes missing.
The right filing system can keep these documents locked away, as most metal products require a key to open them.
If the documents are not organised it is not always obvious when they go missing, and usually only the person who last had that document can find it. However, if the document is filed away correctly, then anyone should be able to retrieve it, whether the last person who had it is in the office that day or not.
Shredders
No office will keep all the pieces of paper and letters that have their details on them filed away. Even if they are filed for a certain number of years, at some point these become outdated and are no longer needed.
When disposing of any document that has the company’s information on it, like an address, or invoices with bank details included, then they should be shredded to ensure the information does not fall into the wrong hands.
The better the office shredder, the safer the document is to dispose of, there have been cases where fraudsters piece together the shredded paper to gain the information they require, so the finer the shreds, the better.
This is sometimes hard when an office wants to recycle the paper they use. This can still be achieved as long as the employees in your office remember to shred the paper that has sensitive information before putting it in the recycling bin. If you have a good quality paper shredder this process is quick and easy and does not take up time in a busy day.
April 16, 2011
Filed under: Business equipment,Small business — admin @ 4:10 pm
If you’re starting up in business or already own a growing venture then office space is always an area where it’s possible to get a better deal, just as long as you know where to look. Thanks to the internet, it’s now quick and easy to use a comparison website in much the same way as you’d go hunting for broadband or mobile phone deals.
What’s on offer?
If you use the services of an online comparison website to look for desk or office space you’ll immediately find that the best thing about it is convenience. Since the recession has been rolling on many existing businesses are looking for ways to maximise the spare space they have available, so it’s very likely that you’ll be able to get something at a great price.
When it comes to the options on offer then there is a wealth of locations and office types to choose from. What’s more, you’ll find that it’s possible to rent everything from a single desk in a shared office right up to renting whole offices. The desk option is a great idea for any one-man band operations or for people who don’t want to work from home.
In addition, by renting a desk in an existing office block you’ll probably get an instantly credible postal address and a possible location in the centre of a town or city. Business parks also have these options available too and generally speaking even the most rudimentary desk space rental will come with the likes of broadband and utilities included. These deals can be cheap and flexible, so if
you’re working to a tight budget then they’re worth investigating.
Bigger and better
If your business is on the up and you need to expand more than that then think about searching deals on shared offices or serviced offices. The serviced route means that you’ll get a lot more included.
This could add on things like receptionists, post and IT services. Again, the benefit of going down this route is that the deals will invariably be highly flexible. You’ll probably be able to move in almost instantly and costs are generally included in one simple bill.
Leased space is another option to look at if your business requires offices that can be tailored to suit your branding and the lease will probably allow you to make amendments to thing’s like the décor and furniture. Costs might be higher and you’ll probably have to sign up for a longer contract while you’ll also have to return the office to its original décor when you move out.
Nevertheless, this is a good concept if you have a venture that needs to expand beyond the confines of your current office setup.
About the author: Rob Clymo writes on behalf of Office Genie, the UK’s first proper online marketplace for desk space and shared office space.
February 25, 2011
Filed under: Business equipment,Business Tools — admin @ 11:40 am
Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Pro is the partner to the Xperia Neo, sharing the same state-of-the-art suite of features and applications, and powered by the 1GHz SnapDragon processor which hurtles through browsing, messaging or image-viewing tasks with the greatest of ease. Like its perfectly-formed sibling, it’s also an aesthetic delight with its smooth curves and elegant proportions. But where the Experia Pro differs is in having an optimized slide-out keyboard with integrated smart functions, specifically aimed at enabling super-fast messaging. The Xperia Pro introduces Sony Ericsson’s innovative new Type & Send functionality, which frees users from having to keep open a specific app dedicated to each type of message. The Smart Keyboard automatically triggers predictive messaging protocols the moment the user slides it out for use.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro aims to be the perfect business phone for Android users. Built on the latest 2.3 Gingerbread operating system, its suite of professional functions includes secure syncing of email, calendar and contacts, while Office Suite Pro enables seamless viewing and editing of Word, Excel and PowerPoint files while on the go.
But of course the Xperia Pro offers dazzling features and performance for home and leisure too. Its imaging capabilities give it a market-leading edge, thanks to its 8.1MP autofocus camera with Sony’s Exmor R CMOS sensor which facilitates stunning photos even in low light. Add Flash, face detection and image stabilization, and you have optical performance which many dedicated digital cameras would struggle to match. The Pro shoots HD video too, with low light and indoor performance enhanced by a built-in video light. For video calls and self-portraits, there’s a front-facing 2MP camera.
Image and video playback is a joy on the Pro’s 3.7 in BRAVIA TFT touchscreen, a mobile marvel with its dazzling 854x480pixel display, while an HDMI output offers playback on HD TVs. Connectivity is via WiFi, 3G and HSDPA/HSUPA, as well as Bluetooth and microUSB. This has to be a contender for Best Android Phone of 2011. To find your ideal smartphone, you can be sure that Expansys smartphones will help you do just that.
January 31, 2011
Filed under: Business Advice,Business equipment,Business Tools — admin @ 1:54 pm
EPOS systems or Electronic Point of Sale systems are now found in almost all major retail stores. They give businesses a fast and convenient way of making transactions with customers, while taking and recording the necessary information.
Should all businesses use EPOS systems or just the major retailers?
When you look at the advantages of having an EPOS system, every business should have one even the little convenience stores.
You can save yourself and your business from human error when calculations and sales are made. We all know how easy it is for your finger to slip and hit the wrong button. Well you would no longer need to worry about that as EPOS systems keeps your pricing consistent with the option of making changes easily.
No more will you have to do manual stock takes, keeping your staff on later than their shift and paying them overtime. If you use our system, you can quickly and easily produce stock reports and evaluations on stock and expenses.
Worried that your staff are slacking off and not paying full attention? Not anymore when you can monitor staff activity. Being made to sign in to their system with their own cash allowance in the till you can monitor exactly what is going on, electronically.
Customer experience is crucial and with EPOS you can ensure that transactions will be put through with consistency but also with speed.
Where to purchase EPOS Systems
There are many places out there that supply you with the equipment you need to help make your business a success. However, you want to speak to someone who will take you through the purchase process step by step and give you a bespoke deal that will suit your specific business.
Highstreeters are not like any other consultancy; they will become your best friend when it comes to changing your business for the better. They listen to all your needs and then give you the best solution with extras.
September 11, 2010
Filed under: Business equipment — Alan @ 3:08 am
While sometimes you really can find a free lunch, it is a little harder to believe that open source software can be utilized to run a business completely for free via cloud hosting.
However, those who have used free or open source software can attest to the fact that it is quite possible to open and run a small business by making full use of cloud computing technology. The hardest part of doing so is actually not the maintenance, but the transfer of that concept into business terminology because the fact that free is not always good has been drilled into most business minds for years.
While it can be hard to fathom that a free product really will work as well as a paid counterpart, the truth is that as the cloud computing technology and research continues to progress free can be a very viable option. This is particularly true in the case of a small business where a budget may be limited.
With this thought in mind, it may be time to toss out the ‘you get what you pay for’ mindset and replace it with a mindset that is focused on what future technology has to offer. After all, Google has created a cloud that is practically free and maintenance free, and Google is not a company known for being unreliable or shady. Therefore, maybe the possibility of free is something that all business owners should take the time to reconsider.
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