Category Archives: Small Business

Business, Healthcare, Marketing, Media, Small Business, Sports

In support of World Diabetes Day, Harvey Norman’s Connected Fitness team research reveals that 280 Australians develop diabetes every day

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In support of World Diabetes Day (14 November), Harvey Norman’s Connected Fitness team carried out a detailed research project to uncover the extent of Australia’s type 2 diabetes problem. The worrying results indicate that an estimated 1.7 million Australians suffer from type 2 diabetes today, with up to half of these cases currently undiagnosed. Reports from The World Health Organisation indicate that the total number of diabetic Australians is expected to increase to 3.3 million by 2031, creating a healthcare timebomb for the country. An infographic to visually represent the results has been specially commissioned and can be found on theHarvey Norman website.

Diabetes can significantly impact the quality of life and life expectancy of its sufferers. Some of the potential health complications caused by the disease include kidney damage, heart disease and stroke, loss of vision, and foot ulcers leading to limb amputation. The long term impacts on the life of the sufferer, and on healthcare costs for the country, are significant. However, it is known that up to around 60% of cases of type 2 diabetescould be prevented.

Key steps that can be taken to help prevent the development of this killer disease include eating a healthy diet, cutting out tobacco, keeping alcohol consumption within sensible limits and taking regular exercise. Walking, running and cycling are all great forms of exercise that enable people to work at their own pace and can easily be carried out in the home using treadmills and exercise bikes. Harvey Norman’s Connected Fitness team are on hand to provide help and advice on suitable fitness equipment and tools that can make it easy for people to increase their levels of activity and monitor their progress.

Harvey Norman’s Daniel Hosford, says: “World Diabetes Day should be an important date in everyone’s diary. Harvey Norman understands the importance of following a healthy lifestyle in order to protect against this debilitating disease and we’d like to do our bit to support the aims of the day. Our Connected Fitness team are happy to help our customers find the right equipment to help them take part in a healthy level of exercise, and our range is also available to purchase online for those customers who don’t have a store nearby. ”

Ends

For more information contact: Steve.teece@freshegg.com, tel: 0414697495

Notes to editors

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd, is a public company that,as a franchisor, grants franchises to independent business operators, as business owners who retail products for the home and office in the following categories: Fitness, Electrical, Computers & Communications, Small Appliances, Furniture, Bedding, Home Improvements, Lighting and Carpet & Flooring.

There are Harvey Norman stores in Australia, New Zealand, Slovenia, Ireland, Singapore and Malaysia.

Accounting, Business, Consumer Services, Financial, Small Business, Software

Red Wing Software Offers Accounting Software Data Transfer for New Customers

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 Red Wing Software, Inc. has announced the offering of data transfer service to its new customers from non-Red Wing software accounting software applications.

Customers who are new to Red Wing Software can rest easy, knowing the Red Wing Software support team will help them through the process of bringing in their master record files from their prior system into Red Wing Software’s CenterPoint Accounting Software application. This also includes vertical applications CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture, Nonprofits, and Municipals, and CenterPoint Payroll Software. The cost of data transfer service varies and is done at $125 per hour.

Red Wing Software’s current customers have always enjoyed the benefits of the support offered by Red Wing Software for transferring data between the company’s programs, and will continue to receive the option for this service.

For more information about Red Wing Software data transfer services or accounting software products, visit www.redwingsoftware.com, contact Red Wing Software at 800-732-9464 or e-mail info@redwingsoftware.com.

Red Wing Software, Inc., along with its nationwide network of business partners, offers industry-leading service, as well as training, on-site installation and implementation of the software. Their vision is to create the best management software experience through personal support and attention to customers’ business goals.

Red Wing Software, Inc. develops, integrates and supports the accounting and financial management needs of small- to mid-sized businesses, YMCAs, agribusinesses, Non profits, and municipals across North America . For more information on Red Wing Software products, including CenterPoint Accounting, CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture, CenterPoint Fund Accounting, CenterPoint Payroll, call 1-800-732-9464 or visitwww.redwingsoftware.com.

Contact: Stephanie Elsen
Red Wing Software, Inc.
491 Highway 19, Red Wing, MN 55066
Phone: 800-732-9464
Fax: 651-388-7950
www.redwingsoftware.com
info@redwingsoftware.com

Consumer Services, Entertainment, Gaming, Internet & Online, Retail, Small Business

Christmas Present Ideas Range For 2012 Launched By Paramount Zone

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With economic times still being tough,Paramountzone.com who have been selling fun gadgets and cool Christmas present ideasonline for over a decade have focussed on providing the most fun and innovative gadgets and toys for the best possible prices in their 2012 Christmas gift range.

James Morris, Managing Director of the company, said:
“More than ever, and particularly online, customers are looking for great products at the lowest possible prices, and that is what we have been focussing on for our latest range of over 50 new products. You can spend £50 with us and get a variety of fun and innovative Christmas gift ideas.”

One of the more expensive Christmas gift ideas is our latest Turbo Drone Quad copter that at £50 is around 30% of what other similar products are being sold at.

At the lower end of the price spectrum you can buy a USB cup warmer for under £5, which makes the perfect stocking filler or secret Santa gift idea. The mini alcohol breath tester is also under £5, a great gadget for the Christmas party season.

For under £10 you can buy the Music hat (iHat) which is an innovative winter hat with in built speakers that is the perfect gift for any teenager.

One of the best Christmas presents for kids is our screaming flying monkey toy (£4.99) or the awesome magic rainbow projector at only £12.99.

Fun Christmas gifts for her include the Tap style shower radio and Hangover kit that both come in at under £5.

As well as a huge range of great value Christmas presents for men and all the family, Paramountzone.com aim to give a very high level of customer service.

Delivery options include next day delivery within the UK, as well as worldwide options.

Visit www.paramountzone.com for the full range of Christmas presents for 2012.

Contact Details: Address:
Paramount Zone Ltd
Unit 19 Lawson Hunt Ind Park
Broadbridge Heath
Horsham
Sussex
RH12 3JR

Telephone: 0844 873 3220 (UK)

Advertising, Business, Internet & Online, Marketing, Media, Small Business, Social Media

SearchCatalyst Highlights Why Duplicate Web Content is Bad for Small Businesses

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Duplicate web page content is bad for any website because it greatly affects SEO, but SearchCatalyst, an SEO agency dealing exclusively in small business Internet marketing, says it is particularly bad news for small businesses.

Aside from negatively impacting on a user’s online experience, duplicate content is particularly disastrous for SEO. It affects the site’s credibility, which is one of the most important ways a site can rank highly, organically, on search engines like Google. Google ranks sites based on several criteria, each of which is built into its complicated search algorithm. Relevancy is the most important – does the site list content relevant to the search query? – but credibility is a close second.

However, this issue affects all businesses, big and small. An issue that is more likely to affect small businesses, or expanding ones in the processes of upgrading their websites and online presence comes down to duplicate content on developer sites. Quite often web developer domains – where developers work on websites – are indexed by Google. Developers can be completely unaware they have created duplicate content but as websites take a few months to develop they can sit on developer domains for a while and the duplicate pages will negatively affect search rankings on Google.

This generally impacts small businesses to a greater extent than larger companies because they don’t have the scope and finances to implement new pages quickly.

Google’s algorithms are highly sophisticated and can filter out sites that have duplicate content. Some may be labelled as spam as a result, whilst others will just be listed much lower down on the SERPs. Google has become much better at detecting duplicate content since the Panda algorithm update, which all small businesses and developers should be aware of.

SearchCatalyst offers affordable SEO services to small businesses looking to boost organic search rankings and gain greater online exposure at minimal cost.

-ENDS-

SearchCatalyst contact details:
Brendon Johnson
Level 14, The Broadgate Tower,
Primrose St,
London, EC2A 2EW
www.searchcatalyst.co.uk
contact@searchcatalyst.co.uk
+44 (0)20 3326 1800

Environment, Government, Industrial, Media, Small Business, Society

IL 1st Congressional District Don Peloquin Voters Rush To Oust Bobby

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The Republicans rush to derail the Metra’s $141 million Englewood Flyover Project hasn’t deterred the supporters of Don Peloquin; they’re climbing aboard his “Time For Change” campaign like a freight train.

Well know n for his hands on “let’s get this going attitude” and 25 productive years as mayor of Blue Island IL., the people of the newly redistricted 1 st Congressional District are rushing to get Bobby out. They’re not forgetful of how Don helped elect the first Hispanic and Afro-American Alderman for the city of Blue Island and they don’t want the Chicago City Politicians in charge of their districts destiny.

The most significant increase in Don’s voter support have been from many of those who are now affected by the redistricting. Many didn’t even realize the impact of it until Don woke them up with his “Unless you want all for Chicago and nothing for the suburbs and our rural areas, you’d had better get out and vote for a change. This rush to get Bobby out is more of a community need than a party vote.

New to the 1 st district, Will County residents are waking up fast and have become a large voice for the Don Peloquin “Time For Change” campaign. They don’t call it Insight, it’s hindsight, either way you slice it, being controlled by the “tentacles of Cook County politics” has never benefitted the suburban and rural areas, it’s like being robbed of our rights to live outside of the city. They even wrote and signed their own “Declaration of Independence” a Grass Roots “We The People” approach to nothing less than inciting a large scale riot in the Burbs in order to affect change.

The buzz and the chatter in some of the most highly read online communities likepatch.com is really heating up, and these pro Don Peloquin “Time For Change” discussions have taken on a flavor with some spice, like “Caliente”, it’s that hot.

It’s all about “Get Out And Vote” Know the Dates

Sept. 27:  First day mail ballots will be sent out

Oct. 9:  Last day to register to vote

Oct. 10:  First day of grace period registration and voting

Oct. 22: First day of early voting

Nov. 1: Last day to request a mail ballot, including military and overseas voters

Nov. 3: Last day of early voting; last day of grace period registration and voting

Nov. 4:  In-person absentee voting begins at the Clerk’s downtown Chicago office

Nov. 5:  Postmark deadline for absentee ballots; last day of in-person absentee voting at the Clerk’s downtown Chicago office and five suburban courthouse mini-centers

Nov. 6: General election

The Time For Change Independent Voice: Dedicated To Public Announcements That Affect Our Suburban and Rural Life. We simply state what’s before us from the eyes and ears of those affected. Get Out And Vote For A Change, Visit www.peloquinforcongress.com and read for yourself.

Business, International Trade, Media, Small Business

New Book Examines the Future Of Israel’s Hi-Tech Economy

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“What’s Next for the Start-Up Nation”, written by senior consultant Uri Goldberg, questions sustainability of Israeli technology sector

A new book is taking a cold, hard look at Israel’s future as a high tech powerhouse. “What’s Next for the Startup Nation?” (ISBN 1477241205) examines the future of the industry which paved the way for the country’s phenomenal economic growth. Israel became a center for groundbreaking technological innovation thanks to entrepreneurship, coupled with forward thinking government policies and unique historical circumstance. Up until recently, the country had the highest venture capital cash flow per capita in the world.

Now, global and domestic challenges are threatening to wipe out Israel’s achievements. Faced with a rapidly changing financial world as well as ongoing adversity, old policies are unlikely to remain effective. “What’s Next for the Start-Up Nation?” offers a clear and engrossing blueprint for fostering a strong environment of innovation while sustaining a vibrant economy and is now available on Amazon.com.

Uri Goldberg is a management expert, specializing in serving governments and corporations on strategy, innovations and economic development issues. Mr. Goldberg worked with McKinsey& Co. where he directed key consulting projects for Fortune 500 companies as well as governments in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. He also served as Foreign Policy Aid to Israeli President Shimon Peres in his former capacity as Vice Prime Minister. He currently resides in Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Contact Details: Jeremy Ruden – Ruden Media Services – (972)-52-407-0775 jeremy@jeremyruden.com

Advertising, Apparel & Fashion, Business, Consumer Services, Electronics, Internet & Online, Marketing, Retail, Small Business

Latest Leighmans.com Research Shows Companies Spending More on Corporate Gifts

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A new poll conducted by Leighmans.com – one of the UK’s leading suppliers of corporate gift and incentive products – has revealed that companies are now spending more than ever on corporate and personalised gifts. The company’s poll found that 75 percent of UK businesses are – even in the difficult financial climate – investing more in hospitality and gifts.

The Leighmans.com survey polled in excess of 1,000 people and discovered that six in ten companies currently spend more on incentives and gifts for clients and staff. Of this group 40 percent said that their expenditure has recently increased by over one fifth.

The poll found that personalised gifts are more popular than ever too, with 45 percent of respondents saying that they prefer customised gifts to standard ones. Leighmans.com reports that items like their printed Shanghai pen range and personalised custom 15mmlanyards are proving particularly popular.

Dr Ashley Weinberg, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Salford, commented: “In sales ‘we buy from people we like’ and so, at a very basic level, some potential consumers may well feel a little emotional boost from an organisation offering them something without charge.”

“Even for those who decline the offer of a gift or hospitality, there is some perception that the organisation who offered it is one that we’re likely to be more open to in future.”

“In this case, we have created our own unwritten understanding – or psychological contract – that raises our expectations of the organisation and means we may be more positively disposed to them.”

The Leighmans.com poll sought to established buying patterns and psychologies in the corporate gifts sector at present. Leighmans.com offers customers a wide range of goods such as sponsored Rainham conference bags with logos on the inside. The survey also found that UK companies spent more money on gifts and incentives in 2012 than in all of 2011.

Leighmans.com founder, Darren Leigh, commented: “Far from the pre-conceived notion that marketing and entertainment are the first things to be cut when the going gets tough, it actually appears businesses are investing more into the development and maintenance of relationships through entertainment and effective promotions.”

“Building business relationships is vital. It can be done through meetings and entertaining and also through carefully selected gifts to existing or potential new business leads. It’s appreciated because it not only represents a financial investment, but also shows empathy and the fact you have invested time into trying to get into the other person’s head to give them something they want. That helps to create and build relationships, which are vital for ongoing business.”

Speaking of human behaviour, Dr Weinberg said: “Perhaps somewhere in between feeling really positive and just as negative, is the vague notion that we might feel indebted, as this organisation has already given us something which is of value. It is not quite an obligation, but it can certainly affect that psychological contract when we come to deciding where to buy from.”

Bury-based Leighmans.com helps customers to choose from a huge range of high-quality, promotional gifts and its customer base includes major blue-chip companies such as Deutsche Bank.

For further information, please visit www.leighmans.com.
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Media contact:
Lucy Wray or Ellie O’Connell at Peppermint PR
T: 0161 941 4252
E: lucy@peppermintpr.com or ellie@peppermintpr.com

Notes to editors:
• Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Leighmans.com was established by Darren Leigh, a serial entrepreneur with over 17 years of experience in business.
• Leighmans has worked with a range of clients, from major blue-chip companies including Deutsche Bank, to household names.
• Product lines include wireless laptop mice, 3D paperweights, clothing, speakers, headphones, portable chargers and many more.

Contact Details: Darren Leigh
sales@leighmans.com
Leighmans.com
http://www.leighmans.com
0161 763 2690

Advertising, Business, Electronics, Industrial, Marketing, Media, Retail, Small Business, Technology

RichTech Systems’ Transparent LCD Showcases Can Increase Sales

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The transparent LCD showcase technology is an emerging trend for companies to display a wide range of products. These showcases use an entirely see-through LCD so that information, video, audio, text and company logos can all be displayed while the customer can still see the goods on display behind it. The screen also has touch screen functionality so that viewers can learn more about what is being displayed, find out about all of the different options and even order it all with the touch of a finger.

One particularly good use for the transparent LCD showcase is for jewelry display. Stores can use them in the shop window to help draw shoppers’ attention to the store and the jewelry products that are available for sale. These unique showcases can also be used on countertops to help to draw shoppers inside. The cutting edge technology can help to increase foot traffic, promote the brand, increase awareness of the store and even increase sales.

This technology is particularly good for displaying jewelry but also has a huge range of other settings that can be used. Transparent LCDs are also extremely effective in boardrooms, airports, tradeshows, conferences, museums, science centers, art galleries and any number of retail locations. This technology is perfectly suited to both retail and educational settings to provide information, sound, video and pictures to viewers.

The transparent LCD is available in a huge range of sizes from 10” for smaller uses to 60” for larger locations. Currently, the most popular sizes being sold are the 12” and the 22” showcases. These technologies are available for purchase at extremely reasonable price points, allowing even smaller retail locations to take advantage of all they have to offer. For instance, the 12” transparent LCD currently has a retail price of only $349.

These LCD solutions are also extremely easy to use. It features compatibility with a variety of video, audio and graphic formats and is set up for users to literally plug and play. Users can use CF, SD and USB card storage to set up the text, images and video to be displayed on the see- through LCD screen.

This engaging technology is sure to be seen in an ever increasing variety of settings as people become more aware of the possibilities that it has to offer. Visit the RichTech Systems Ltd. website at http://www.richtechsystem.com/html/transparent-video-showcase.html to see photos and videos of this technology in action.

About the Company:
RichTech Systems Ltd. is an award winning company that provides the technology for interactive multi-media displays. Their innovative digital media products include virtual reality applications, interactive projection technologies, multimedia displays and touch system products. These products can be used by a wide variety of businesses to help capture the audience’s attention and showcase their brand in entirely new and unique ways. These technologies can be used in retail locations, boardrooms, airports, museums, tradeshows and more. Visit their website at http://www.richtechsystem.com for more information.

Contact Details: 6185 S. Pecos Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89122
1-866-204-2158
info@richtechsystem.com
www.richtechsystem.com

Apparel & Fashion, Business, Entertainment, Internet & Online, Shopping, Small Business, Social Media, Society

Balluun Introduces New Social Business Platform To Empower Fashion Designers To Create Impact For Their Brands And Businesses

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Leading up to the 2012 MAGIC show, social business upstart, Balluun, today announced its patent-pending technology platform for emerging fashion designers and the wholesale marketplace. On the same day, Balluun announced a new advisory board member, fashion maverick, Nicole Miller. “We are so honored and excited to be able to tap such a visionary innovator and designer to add to our distinguished group of advisors,” said Peter Koch, CEO of Balluun. “She will bring an invaluable perspective, aesthetic eye and reality check to our overall effort.”

Balluun is the future of commerce for fashion, as we know it. Fashion designers who are Balluun members can easily upload their collections on Balluun’s website prior to the show and take advantage of Balluun’s mobile app to display specifications of their lines and conduct transactions with buyers online at the show.

Balluun’s focus is the world of fashion and redefining how fashion is accessed, experienced, shared, purchased and sold in the real and digital worlds. Some of Balluun’s primary features and benefits include:
– Balluun provides the ability for sellers to share product updates and entire collections and for buyers to view and discover new designs and track product trends.

– Balluun enables buyers to communicate directly with the sellers before, during and after creating a purchase order.

– Balluun accommodates all terms and forms of payment traditionally found in the fashion industry.

– Balluun records all of the information for the seller and the buyer, and all order information is maintained online for easy reference anytime, anywhere.

“Balluun is truly game-changing for young fashion designers who want to create impact with their brands and build businesses within an increasingly competitive climate.” said Peter Koch, CEO of Balluun. “With the continued evolution of the internet, the cloud and social networking, Balluun has been able to develop transformative ways to do business.”
Brief Balluun Product Snapshot

Visually Rich Marketplace To Show & Share Collections- Balluun provides a robust platform on which designers/manufacturers can sell their products and independent retailers can shop for products in a visually rich digital environment. Social Business Community All Your Own- Balluun’s platform is optimized for ongoing social inter-action and like an in-person interaction, people communicate with one another back and forth while purchasing goods. Balluun accomplishes this and deploys technology to thread the communication exchange throughout a transaction. The Paperless Office- Balluun enables designers, retailers and manufacturers the ability to search products by price and style, review line sheets and collections, create and pay purchase orders online. Balluun provides a hassle-free digital option from paper-based lookbooks/catalogs, business cards and order forms in a social business solution.

About Balluun
Balluun’s mission is to empower fashion designers by lowering barriers to entry for emerging designers to launch their brand, sell their products to buyers and connect them online to create long-term relationships and healthy businesses. Balluun redefines a whole new way of conducting business by leveraging its roots in the information technology world (Cisco), commerce marketplace (eBay) and banking (UBS). The company has built a patent-pending social business platform dedicated to the unique needs of the fashion industry. With a guiding philosophy of connecting everyone and helping everyone to grow, Balluun is a company that is re-imagining how fashion businesses are created and managed with a technology-driven social business model. For more information and to sign up on Balluun, please visit: www.balluun.com.

eBay, the eBay logo, Cisco, the Cisco logo, UBS, the UBS logo are trademarks of their respective com

Contact Details: Tricia Chan, Public Group, LLC
95 Morton Street, Main Flr.
New York, NY 10014
Tele: 917.239.0642
triciachan8@gmail.com
www.balluun.com

Consumer Services, Internet & Online, Small Business, Transportation & Logistics

Parcel2Go Helping Small Businesses to Beat Royal Mail Price Increase

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Small firms feeling the squeeze following the Royal Mail’s decision to increase the price of first and second class stamps at the end of last month are being offered a helping hand by Bolton-based online parcel delivery firm Parcel2Go.

The company says businesses and individuals can try to beat the Royal Mail price increase by becoming Parcel2Go users and benefitting from the vast range of reliable and cost-effective UK express delivery solutions available through the website.

With just a few clicks of a mouse, customers can order delivery services from some of the world’s major courier companies such as FedEx, Parcelforce and Yodel. Changes to the way Royal Mail prices parcels means people will be better off sending any consignment weighing more than 750g through Parcel2Go.

Parcel2Go’s marketing director Richard Mercer said: “We understand how much pressure consumers and small businesses are under at the moment, which is why we are urging people to see if they are able to get a better deal on their package deliveries through the Parcel2Go website.

“Our quick quote function makes it simple and extremely fast to get a price for a delivery, but that simple move could result in a sizeable saving. What’s more, because we only deal with the world’s top courier firms, individuals and businesses always know their consignments are in safe hands.”

Convenience matters to everyone, which is why the Collect+ services available through Parcel2Go have become so popular. Customers not able to meet a courier to pick up their package can choose instead to drop it off at one of the 3,000 corner shops and convenience stores in the UK that make up the Collect+ network.

“Convenience, speed, reliability and affordability are what we’re about,” said Mr Mercer. “We’re calling on everyone affected by the recent Royal Mail price hike to see if they could save, and get a better service though Parcel2Go.”

###

For further information contact:
Les Yates
Marketing Executive
Telephone: 08713 308066
Email: l.yates@parcel2go.com
Website: http://www.parcel2go.com