Beauty Salon Industry Suffering?

Posted by admin 7/30/2009 0 comments
Times are Tough... says Julianne Gegenheimer of Sugarland, Texas. Julianne is just one of the several salon owner across the country struggling in this economy. She can not seem to compete with the new trend of clients self maintaining their image with store bought hair colors and at-home hair cuts to save that bi-weekly visit to the salon.

Hearing this, I decided to write a few options for the salon owner to maintain business in this recession. I will go over the obvious and not so obvious form of advertising that will cost little to nothing at all.

1. Do Not Advertise Like A Large Salon or Spa

Large salons advertise to create name recognition and future sales. A smaller salon can't afford to do that. One way to accomplish this is to always include an offer on beauty servicse or products in your advertising campaigns.

2. Offer a Cheaper Hair Services

Some prospective customers are not willing to pay the asking price for your product or service. Others are more interested in paying a low price than in getting the best quality. You can avoid losing sales to many of these customers by offering a smaller or stripped down version of your product or service at a lower price.

3. Offer a Premium Salon Service or Product

Not all customers are looking for a cheap price. Many are willing to pay a higher price to get a premium product or service. You can boost your average salons sale and your total revenue by offering a more comprehensive beauty products or services ...or by combining several beauty products or services in a special premium package offer for a higher price.

4. New Marketing Methods

Look for some unconventional marketing methods your competitors are overlooking. You may discover some highly profitable ways to generate sales and avoid competition. Ex. Carry a hair care line no one else carries but has demand.

6. Joint Promotions with Other Small Businesses

You can offer to publicize their products or services to your customers in exchange for their publicizing your beauty and salon services to their customers. This typically can produce a large number of sales if you choose a business that corresponds to your market.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Sousa

What is Heart Disease?

Posted by admin 7/27/2009 0 comments
The heart is the center of the cardiovascular system. It pumps blood to all the cells of the body through the blood vessels. The blood pumped by the heart carries oxygen needed by the cells to function properly. Cardiovascular or heart disease is a group of heart problems that develop when both the heart and blood vessels are not functioning properly. Here are some problems that go along with heart disease:

1. Atherosclerosis - People with this type of heart disease have a build up of fat and cholesterol that narrows down the arteries making it difficult for blood to flow through.

2. Arteriosclerosis - Also known as the hardening of the arteries, this condition means that the arteries become thick and are no longer as flexible as needed to work the way they should.

3. Angina - People suffering from angina feel pain in their chest. This refers to the condition of the heart not getting enough blood.

4. Heart Attack - This condition occurs when blockage and blood clot cuts the blood flow to a certain part of the heart.

5. Stroke - This is the condition when a certain part of the brain is not getting enough blood due to a burst blood vessel or clot.

How Do You Develop Heart Disease?

Heart disease is not contagious. It is not like a cold or flu that you can just catch anywhere. However, there are certain factors that increase a person's risk of developing heart diseases. These are called risk factors.

Some of the risk factors are those that people can't avoid. These include aging and having some members in the family with a history of heart attack. However, there are also some other risk factors that people have control over. These are having hypertension or high blood pressure, smoking, not getting enough exercise, and being overweight.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Heart Disease?

Many people are not aware they have heart disease until they experience chest pain, stroke, or heart attack. These conditions are emergency case and often require immediate attention. However, if it is not classified as an emergency case and a doctor or physician suspects the patient could have heart disease. The doctor can do some tests to know more about if the patient's heart and blood vessels are functioning the way they should.

Heart disease tests include:

• Electrocardiogram - This test analyzes the electrical activity of the heart. A doctor uses a monitor to see and determine if the patient's heart beat is normal.

• Echocardiogram - The test makes use of sound waves to check the heart problems. These sound waves bounce off certain parts of the heart, displaying an image of the patient's heart on the monitor.

• Stress Test - For this test, the doctor asks the patient to do certain exercises while he checks through the electrocardiogram machine how the heart muscles react.

• Catheterization - For this test, the doctor inserts a long and thin tube into the patient's body to inject a special kind of medical dye. This dye can then locate narrow areas in the arteries caused by plague buildup.

• Carotid Artery Scan - This test also makes use of sound waves to check blockages and blood clot in the carotid artery. The carotid artery is a large blood vessel located in the neck. It is responsible for the supply of blood to the brain.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amanda_C_Jones

Manifesting Money - The Secret Law of Attraction

Posted by admin 7/25/2009 0 comments
More money. It's something that we all would like to have in our lives. After all, having money means that there are far fewer limitations on the things that we can do and experience. Most people have a hard time paying the bills, let alone manifesting money that allows them to live a life full of luxuries and comfort.

If you have heard of the secret law of attraction, then you may be wondering how you can begin to manifest money in your life. What are some tips that can help you to attract money?

1. Build your knowledge on how to build wealth. Just thinking about having cash is not going to make it appear. Sorry. I hate to disappoint you, but it just won't happen like that. Instead, you have to begin to think, feel, and act like a millionaire would. And millionaires tend to have quite a bit of knowledge when it comes to building wealth.

2. Take chances. With no risk, there is no reward. The safest thing that you can do is to rely solely on your weekly paycheck. Yet, this is also the sure way to staying where you are and guaranteeing that you will never get rich. You have to take educated risks from time to time. This is where the payoff comes in.

3. Feel good about having wealth. You have to feel good about whatever wealth that you currently have and then build on that. Even if you only have a small amount in your bank account, you have to vibrate a feeling of prosperity. The feeling has to be strong and has to let you smile when you think about it.

4. Save money. I know this goes against the grain when it comes to most of what you hear about the law of attraction. But you really have to have a plan for savings if you want to build long term wealth. Even a small amount of saving can turn into a large fortune when you find an opportunity. Start small but think BIG.

5. Build streams of income. If you are not bringing in income from multiple sources, then you are limiting your chances at creating wealth. The streams will all eventually lead to a big pool, which will be your bank account.

Manifesting money can be a daunting task when you first start out. Remember though, that very large fortune started out small and became big. You can make this happen for you with the law of attraction, but you must also understand how to build wealth from a practical angle if you want to see it really happen.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Appleton

Homeowners Insurance and Swimming Pools - What You Need to Know

Posted by admin 7/16/2009 0 comments
Owning a pool can be a fun and rewarding investment but pools are considered "attractive nuisances" to homeowners insurance companies. It's important to understand all the costs associated with owning a pool outside of installation, maintenance, and heating. Regardless of whether or not it's in use, your pool is always sitting there year around waiting for potential incident to occur and because of this you will find that homeowners insurance rates are significantly higher on homes with pools.

Also, with the recent increase in foreclosures nationwide many pools are becoming a huge burden on local wildlife departments who are having to deal with pools infested with all sorts of various animals and insects. Homeowners insurance companies have taken note of this and this to may lead to higher premiums going forward as well.

There are many factors that will affect your homeowners insurance premiums when you own a pool and they include:

• Where You Live - Areas in the Southern US tend to pay lower premiums for pools because a pool in the warmer climates will tend to be better maintained and serviced all year long. The farther north you go the more homeowners insurance companies will penalize you for owning a pool because they may view it as unjustified to do the colder climate and that the frozen ground from winter weather can damage in-ground pools.

• The Piece of Land you Build it On - If your pool is built near a fault line, forests, mountains, or desert terrain, you will most likely pay a higher premium.

• Keep the Pool in the Backyard - Homeowners insurance companies view pools built in the backyard as being much safer than those in the front. Pools built in the front yard can potentially attract unwanted attention from people passing by and could lead to unauthorized use or abuse of the pool.

• How to Reduce Your Homeowners Insurance Expenses - If you choose to build a pool, have one now, or are buying a home with one, read the tips below for some common ways to lower your premiums.

• You should discuss with your homeowners insurance agents any recommendations your insurance company or local government safety offices have about building or maintaining a pool, and any local safety codes that you must follow.

• Always make sure your pool is attended at all times and that includes not swimming alone yourself.

• Installing a fence around the pool to keep unauthorized people from using it is another way to save on your premium.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Lustina

How To Keep The Weight Off After Leaving Fat Boot Camp

Posted by admin 7/15/2009 0 comments
Fat boot camps are places that people can go to when they are having trouble losing weight on their own. There are some of us that need help trying to shed off a hundred or even fifty pounds. Though it may seem easy at first for most people it can be hard to stay concentrated and have the self control that they need to reach their final weight loss goal.

But these camps are designed to help people like this. Their goal is to jump start the weight loss and teach people how to exercise to their full extent and what foods they should be eating and what they need to be avoiding. They will be surrounded by people who are struggling just like them and can keep in contact with them after they have left.

They also have counselors that will help people work through their emotional issues and try to discover why they gained the weight and what is making them hold on to it. Before you know it you will have lost ten to twenty pounds in the short time that you are there.

Going to the camp is hard - but leaving it is even harder. Many people become dependent upon it and when they leave they do not know how to handle themselves once they are out. It is mainly the fear that they will gain all of the weight in a matter of days or months that scares them the most.

Keeping the weight off at home is easy when you know the proper steps you need to be taking. Remember to drink only water, eat the foods that you know are good for you, and try to exercise at least thirty minutes a day. Don’t let the mundane things in your lives take you away from trying to live and be a healthy person for yourself and your family.

By: Naomi West

Let Your Friends Bring Traffic to Your Web Site

Posted by admin 7/13/2009 0 comments
Have you started your own Internet business? If you have established an online business or thought about doing it, have you commenced planning how to increase the amount of traffic that comes to your web site or blog? It is extremely important to take some steps to attract a steady flow of traffic. A potentially outstanding method for carrying this out involves getting your friends and other people whom you build a friendly rapport with to be of huge assistance to you in attracting visitors. By reading this article, you will learn how to utilize friend feeds to generate Internet traffic.

One method you can employ is to talk with friends, relatives and casual acquaintances while utilizing the word-of-mouth process. Below is an example of a special dialogue you can practice with.

Your friend: "What's up, Todd? I have not seen you in quite a while. How are you doing? What have you been up to these days?"

You: "I'm doing okay, Jerry. Thank you for asking. I am running my own business online. It involves selling furniture items that can be delivered around the world. Do you need any new furniture?"

Jerry: "No, I do not need any new furniture but thank you for asking."

You: "Do you have any friends or relatives who need new furniture?"

Jerry: "I know about ten people who need new furniture."

You: "I can probably help them. I have business cards that include the link to my web site. Please pass these on to your friends."

Another method you can employ to generate more traffic through friend feeds is to provide links to those you know or build a rapport with over the Internet. When you communicate with friends and relatives through E-mail, provide them the link to your web site and ask them to spread the word about you and bookmark your site.

You can make friends online by doing things that will build a rapport with them. If you do a good job writing articles or answering other people's questions in a forum on a particular web site, you will make some people very happy and they will probably want to visit your web site.

Engage in the social networking process. Become a member of social web sites such as Friendster and My Space. Provide the link to your site on your profile and try to make new friends.

Use viral marketing. This method involves letting your web site visitors directly invite others to check out your site. A great way to do this is to create a web site through Web and insert a viral marketing button that will let visitors send an E-mail invitation to others. The link to your site is automatically included in the pop-up message that appears when your button is clicked.

Follow these steps to generate more Internet traffic to your site through friend feeds!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Hicks

Making Free Money Online - Surveys Taking

Posted by admin 7/08/2009 0 comments
There are various ways in which you can start making free money i.e. online survey taking without being charged anything. You really don't need to be formally employed to be able to generate an income. If you have a computer, are able to type and read real fast the Internet offers lots of ways in which income can be generated.

Data collection and market research are now the ways in which most companies are able to get ahead in their various lines of business. They normally cannot get a hold of as much information as they need to, for decision making on product development, entry into new markets or even introduction of new products or services and will normally pay to get a hold of this information. This is where online free surveys or free paid surveys come in.

Now how much you make is up to you and how much time you are willing to dedicate to this making free money i.e. online survey taking business. That's why I say it can generate you just income or extra income. The more time you are willing to put into it the more income you will generate. Makes sense really considering that the more surveys you do the more you get paid as you get paid according to the number of completed assignments that you do.

But how do you access these sites and how do you know which ones will pay you for the work that you do. There are sites that are available where you can register. One way of accessing these sites would be to search the net. The problem is you might spend a lot of time surfing through the different sites trying to determine which ones wont scam you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mavis_Morris

Quick and Easy Last Minute Desserts

Posted by admin 7/05/2009 0 comments
First you have to understand how I shop for food items. I love the "buy one get one free" items, you just never know when that extra item will come in handy for last minute dishes. I am also watchful for sale items, even though I might not need the item for that weeks meal menu, it is always good to save a little money now for that great dish later.

Although I think fresh is best, you can never go wrong with a canned or frozen item for these last minute recipes.

This offering is of two of my most recent creations that were a big success and only took 45 minutes to prepare and bake. First one that was a great success for my chocolate lover friends a few weeks ago.

Double Chocolate Cream Cheese Bars

1 box chocolate cake mix
2 packages cream cheese room temperature
2 eggs
1 ½ cups chocolate chips
1 box confectionery sugar
1 stick butter room temperature

- Mix the cake mix with butter till crumbly
separate ½ cup of mix and set aside
press the rest of cake/butter mix into bottom of a 8x11.5x2 baking dish

- Take the cream cheese, eggs, sugar and blend till smooth
- Melt the chocolate chips and mix into this mixture till well blended
- Pour the cream cheese mixture on top of your cake mix, sprinkle the half cup of cake mixture on top
- Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes till center is set.
- Let cool, then cut into 2 inch squares.
- Refrigerate the left over bars, just set out few minutes prior to serving.
Substitution for cream cheese, and sugar- cream cheese icing

So what was the dessert that inspired me to start sharing my recipes with all of you and especially my Apple loving friends. From the kitchen Cabinets of Larry, here is the newest creation.

Quick and Easy Apple Oatmeal Crisp

2 cans of Apple Pie Filling
1 cup of Golden Raisins
1 ½ sticks of butter room temperature
1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
1 ½ cup light brown sugar
1 ½ cup Oats
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1teaspoon nutmeg

- Prepare a 8x11.5x2 baking dish by rubbing with oil or spray with cooking spray
- Mix the raisins and the pie filling together and pour into baking dish
- Mix the butter, flour, sugar, oats, cinnamon and nutmeg till crumbly.
- Spread this mixture over the apple/raisin.
- Bake at 350 degrees till the top is brown and apple are bubbly. Approx. 30 minutes

I hope you enjoy these great quick recipes.

Larry Richards, co-owner of Valmarich, LLC. Larry's career in the medical field, for the last 25+ years, has assisted him and his partner in developing a company that takes pride in providing the best in gift giving and special recognition in traditional and Unique ways.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Richards

All About Leather Menu Covers

Posted by admin 7/03/2009 0 comments
What a pleasure it is to go in to a five star restaurant, and know they have prepared the best for their customers. Right down to their leather menu covers, and wine covers. Can you picture it? You come in and the hostess comes and seats you at a well dressed table of linen table cloth, linen napkins, and fine china. He/She hands you a menu and it is a luxury to handle.

The feel of real leather give a pleasurable feeling to the human senses, there is just something about soft cowhide to bring a smile to the customer.

Leather menu covers are made with the finest grade of leather; they are cut to order for what size you need. The leather is cast in a dye three times to give it the rich color you desire at a restaurant owner. The metal press plate are made to print what ever is needed on the leather menu cover, there is a one time fee for this; it runs about $ 125.00 to 200.00 dollars. The menu covers cost about $75.00 per 100.

The finish product of the leather menu cover is a well created, elegant portrait of craftsmanship. At the corner of a menu you can place gold or copper tips to bring a classy look to it. Now your wine list is a separate smaller leather menu cover, which has stitches' sown right into the leather before the binding. A thick pad is placed just under the leather to bring a lush feel, to top it off; the edges are dipped in liquid gold.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=P._Bastioner

Google Thinks Out of the Box (Again) With Google Squared

Posted by admin 7/01/2009 0 comments
The people at Google sure do spend a lot of time thinking up new and better ways to do things. The company has yet again demonstrated how fostering a culture of constant unconventional thinking can open up boundless possibilities. Google recently announced a new service which they are calling Google Squared.

While this latest offering from the search giant is still in the experimental stage, this early we could already see its advantages. For one thing, it helps users narrow down their searches into more manageable volumes as the suggestions that are provided by the search are already relevant to the user. Often, we spend the majority of our time just trying to sift through all the websites to see which ones contain the details we need. Google Squared addresses that problem.

Also, this makes for more productive research as the information is already organized. All there is left to do is read through the information and edit or add items accordingly. The time spent collecting and sorting information is reduced.

Google Squared Explained

Basically, Google Squared helps you gather the information you need on a particular topic. As opposed to a typical engine search, when you type in a topic you are not merely given a list of websites to choose from. Google Squared generates a set of information in table format with the table containing details such as the name of an item, and image, a description and so on. You will also find links on the table from where Google took the information.

Customizing and Sharing Features

Google Squared allows for convenient table customization where you can easily edit the rows and columns that a table contains. If a certain item doesn't belong in a square, you can remove it by clicking the X shown beside the item name. You can also add more columns and rows if you feel the information that is given to you is not quite sufficient. Click on the "add columns" box and a dropdown menu of suggested items will appear. If the suggested items are not to your liking, you can also type in your own.

You can also share your "squares" with your contacts. You simply sign in to your account then save the square. You can view your squares again upon sign-in and clicking on the "saved squares" menu. You then copy the web address and send that to your friends.

Ensuring Information Accuracy

Google Squared also enables users to double check the information that they are given. Searches generate all available details on a given topic and sometimes, depending on how accurate your phrasing is, the information that is provided may be too narrow, too general or too numerous. With Google Squared, you can check on the values that are provided on the tables.

Let us say, for instance, that you asked for pricing information on digital cameras and you want to check for other pricing suggestions. Simply hover over a table cell and it will light up to indicate web source as well as other value suggestions. Click on the "other values" link to see the list.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ritchie_Smythe