Livingston Reporting - page 227

Creating an Appealing Product Label

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated

Making your product label appeal to buyers is the goal for all product manufacturers.  There are numerous ways that graphic designers work with custom label manufacturers to ensure that your product will stand out above the completion.  Below we will discuss different techniques that product label designers can use to enhance products to gain consumer interest.

A product that is sold or stocked within large outer containers can easily show the quality of their product by using a large colored photo of the interior product on the exterior label.  This method is commonly used in hardware stores where many smaller parts are encompassed within a larger box.  Think of plumbing materials, electrical supplies, furniture knobs and numerous accessorial pieces.

Another method that is popular is creating a label that can be customized to the buyer.  This is an extremely popular labeling technique especially in smaller boutiques.  If your products label can make your customer feel unique or like one of a kind it helps them to connect. Some smaller manufacturers have great success with in-house label printing.

Another popular option in labeling right now is integrating web marketing into your label.  When creating a label include a QR code, a SMS text message code or social media links that consumers can use to get more information about your product or contests sponsored by your brand.  Web-based marketing is an increasingly popular technique that brings an end user into engaging with your brand and product.

Using vibrant colors in labeling helps to catch the consumer’s eye and bring them closer to making a purchase.  Consider your product, picture the colors that best represent your end goal and work them into your label.  Every color invokes a different feeling in consumers consider this when designing your label.  For instance, greens and browns give off an environmentally friendly vibe while blue gives off a sense of authority.

Another option that helps to make your label stand out is designing labels specific to seasonal changes.  Consumers are attracted to items that are specific to what is currently happening.  Consider the products you are most apt to purchase around Halloween or Christmas.  What are these product labels most often adorned with?  Yep, themes of the holiday or color that is specific to that period of time.

When creating a label you can also differentiate it from the competition with the type of material you choose.  Cut and stack paper labels are created from a different material then shrink sleeves.  Consider what the completion is doing and contemplate doing something different to make your product’s label stand out.

Let the tips above serve as a guide when creating a custom product label that will have customers lining up to purchase it!

At Anchor Printing, we take pride in offering our clients cut & stack labeling, pressure sensitive labels, roll-fed labeling, shrink sleeves as well as flexible packaging options. Contact us today at http://anchorprinting.com for all of your product label design, printing and packaging needs.

Anchor Printing

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Standing Out From The Competition

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Are you looking for ways to make your product stand out above the competition?  When shelves are lined with millions of products all claiming that they are better than the product sitting next to it what is it that helps you decide which one to choose?  A products label helps market your product at the exact moment, the point of sale, sell your product.

Labeling is one tool that manufacturers use to help bring awareness to products within your brand.  The label offers basic information such as the company name, business or product logo, information that is required by law and other important materials that are deemed important.  A truly effective label will catch consumer’s attention by standing out amongst its competition.  We have listed a number of tips below to help manufacturers design a custom product label that is truly successful.

Color is crucial when designing a product label.  The colors that are chosen for your label should reflect on your company goals while standing out without being too loud or distracting.  You may be thinking, “Whoa!” that’s a lot to ask out of the colors in your label.  Think about it though if the brand and company image is one of environmentally friendliness it’s natural to consider colors such as greens, browns and yellows.  If your brand commands authority consider choosing blues and red.

When choosing a font for your labels avoid the overused fonts such as Times New Roman or Papyrus.  Go for a font that is creative and reflects the unique characteristics that your product offers.  The font choice should reflect the personality of the brand while accentuating the product that is being sold.

One more think about font choice; be sure the font that you choose is easy to read.  If your label can’t be read at first glance most consumers won’t offer it a second chance.  Make sure that when choosing font you pick one or two compatible fonts that are easy on the eyes!

Using images is another way that label designers can make a products label stand out.  Graphic images are used to be eye catching and to draw attention away from the competition.  The images that are chosen should complement the text while avoiding distraction.  The image used should also make sense with your brand and product.

The type of material that is used in creating a label for your product needs to work with the overall design of the label.  There are a number of materials and types of labels to choose from including: cut & stack, pressure sensitive, roll-fed, shrink sleeves and flexible packaging.  Before moving too far into the design processes consider the best label material for your product.

With every decision in your business there are a million and one directions that you can turn.  A number of components working together can make any product successful and the opposite is true.  Make sure the components used to create your products label work together to ensure product success!

At Anchor Printing, we take pride in offering our clients cut & stack labeling, pressure sensitive labels, roll-fed labeling, shrink sleeves as well as flexible packaging options. Contact us today at http://anchorprinting.com for all of your product label design, printing and packaging needs.

Anchor Printing

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Elder Law Attorney’s Help Clients Avoid Probate

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

 

It’s true that as a society we work to avoid planning for the unpleasant inevitable, death.  It is easier to avoid the topic and go on about life living then to face the fact head on that eventually we will pass on and our families will continue to live without us.  However, if we plan ahead for what will happen to your property when you are no longer around it will save a great deal of time and money for those who you are leaving behind.  With a detailed estate plan in place you will ensure that your assets are dispersed accordingly.

Probate is the process that your assets will go through in observance of the terms set forth in your will often referred to as the probate litigation process.  This process is managed by your state’s probate court.  When assets are located outside of the state in which you live additional proceedings will take place in those states.  Assets that are jointly owned such as retirement benefits, life insurance proceeds, jointly owned property and bank account are considered non-probate assets.

Most people believe having a will in place will be enough to avoid probate but in reality this is not the case.  Any and all assets that you personally own even if intending to pass them on to your beneficiaries are subject to probate.  The process of probate is time consuming and tedious.  The rules that each state follows vary, rarely is probate proceeded with in a timely manner.  The process can take anywhere between three months to three years to resolve themselves depending on the state and size of your estate.  This is an exceptionally long time for your loved ones to wait to finalize your passing, especially if they need the income from the estate to settle your affairs in full.

The process of probate in itself is costly with various fees.  Of course the larger your estate the more potential there is for expense.  Smaller estates with properties outside of your state can become quite costly to settle.  Taking this all into consideration there are steps that individuals can take to avoid the probate process. Having the following in place can help your loved ones to avoid the often lengthy process of probate.

1)      Have a revocable living trust in place.

2)      Convert personal accounts and individual retirement accounts to pay on death accounts.

3)      Establish joint ownership for any and all property through any one of the following: joint tenancy, tenancy by the entirety and community property.

4)      Distribute property to loved ones before you pass away.  Gifts proceeding death do not undergo probate when you die.

5)      Benefit from small estate laws and provisions.  Reputable, local estate planning attorneys can help a great deal with this.

The Law Office of Sean J. Nichols is dedicated to assisting clients throughout legal issues that come with aging including: elder law, estate planning, probate law and more.  Check out the Law Office of Sean J. Nichols at http://www.seanjnichols.com to contact an estate attorney today.

Sean J. Nichols

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Benefits Of Outsourcing Medical Equipment Repairs

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

In medical facilities there is a great debate when it comes to outsourcing and the hospitals bottom line. Leaders within the biomedical equipment repair industry agree on the overwhelming advantages that come with outsourcing.  The advantages of outsourcing discussed within this article also apply to several other departments within the healthcare industry.  In order to achieve long term goals amongst deep budget cuts medical facilities must create a solid foundation in asset management across the board including medical equipment service strategies.

Three Major Benefits of Outsourcing Biomedical Equipment Repair and Maintenance Strategies

Lower Operating Expenses:  This seems like an obvious benefit of outsourcing but many individuals overlook it when evaluating the concept on a whole.  Outsourcing allows medical facilities to retain less personal, reducing operating expenses while increasing the results gained through experienced vendors.  Without the need to hire and train these highly specialized personnel resources labor and operating costs can be reduced.

Outsourcing leaves the vendors responsible for providing highly skilled, trained individuals to repair medical equipment at a moment’s notice.  These services can be paid for on an as needed basis instead of the facility being required to pay the salary and ongoing benefits that they would need to pay a full time biomedical equipment repair specialist.  Thus saving the facility the expense of recruiting, training and the exceptionally expensive extras involved in maintaining a staff of professionals to maintain, care for and repair specialized equipment similar to linear accelerators and CT scanners.

Quality: With the ongoing changes and growth in the technology of medical devices it is crucial to have access to biomed service technicians that are up to date on training and available immediately.  Qualified technicians are vital in keeping life saving equipment functioning properly and providing accurate test results.  Outsourcing allows medical facilities to contract skilled biomed equipment repair specialists to accurately maintain, efficiently diagnosis and repair equipment in a timely manner thus keeping life saving equipment functioning properly.

Capital Budgeting: In order for all businesses to function and grow it is vital that medical facilities, large or small, manage all of their assets, including personal, in an efficient manner.  It is crucial that in-house programs as well as those that are outsourced are prioritized.

There are so many ways in which it makes sense to outsource the area of biomed equipment repair services including lower operating expenses, quality technicians while assisting medical facilities of all sizes to remain vital and competitive.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment.  We provide high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment.  For more information on low cost parts for repairing Linac equipment find us at http://www.radparts.com.

RadParts

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Hiring Professionals To Maintain and Repair Medical Equipment

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Most individuals experience a sense of confidence when it comes to making repairs to their personal items. Some car owners enjoy doing their own automobile repairs. The same is true of many homeowners; they thrive on being capable to keep up on the maintenance and improvements that need to be made around their homes. It is important for many individuals to do this type of work on their own because of the money it saves overtime. Think about the amount of money that could be saved if you didn’t need to hire a mechanic or contractor each time something wasn’t working.

Do-it-yourself maintenance and repairs are not always so simple in other areas. Once such field that requires experts is when medical equipment needs to be maintained or repaired. In order for a professional to be trained to repair equipment throughout medical facilities such as linear accelerators and CT scanners they will need a specialized education. This can be obtained through many community college or vocational schools. Individuals that service medical equipment are referred to as biomedical equipment technicians.

Some hospitals or medical facilities will have a full time staff member that is equipped to handle all of the maintenance and repairs that need to be done throughout the facility on large scaled medical equipment. They are on staff and available to fix malfunctioning equipment immediately. However, in many circumstances hospitals and medical facilities are functioning on a budget therefore relying on biomedical equipment technicians who work on contract or are available for on call service.

Immediate response to medical equipment repairs is necessary. Patient’s lives rely in this equipment to be up and running properly for treatment and diagnosis. If machines are functioning improperly or not at all nurses and physicians risk making critical mistakes. When individual lives are at stake there is absolutely no room for any errors especially from the machines that set out to help them. In the health field, biomedical technicians and the work that they do are critical to the day to day operations of the facility.

It takes quite a few people throughout medical facilities and hospitals to keep the everyday flow running smoothly. Medical equipment that is operating properly allows radiologists to offer patients proper diagnostics and treatments. It takes many trained professionals to ensure that medical equipment is in proper working order. Routine maintenance and proper repairs made the first time around by trained professionals has a significant contribution to the overall health and wellbeing of patients.

Radparts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts for Linear Accelerators and Radiation Oncology equipment. We provide high quality, user friendly, low cost parts support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. For more information on low cost parts for repairing Linac equipment find us at http://www.radparts.com.

RadParts

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Getting the Best Return On Investment In Home Improvements

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

To help homeowners make better choices when it comes to home improvements it is important that they understand the value of the renovation.  Not all remodeling done around the home has the same return on investment.  It is not always worth sinking large amounts of money into upgrades when you are not thinking about staying in the space for any extended amount of time.

When it comes to the bigger winners in renovations the best investments are in kitchen renovations, finished basements and renovated attics.  Any one of these improvement can account for ten to fifteen percent of the total value of your home.  Bathroom renovations are slightly lower at around five to ten percent.  The return of investment may not matter much to you if there is a space in your home that you absolutely can’t live within.  If you aren’t comfortable in your living room then it won’t matter how much value is added or not added to the home with the new appreciation you will have for the space.

Homeowners love their kitchens.  On average kitchen renovations cost around thirty thousand dollars which includes upgrades in flooring, updated appliances, lighting, new cabinets, fresh countertops and the professional resources to make it happen.  The thirty thousand dollar budget for kitchen remodeling does not include a full alteration of the floor plan.

If you desire a change in the layout you will add to the expense of the renovation.  Added expenses come in to play within the kitchen when homeowners change the footprint as plumbing, electrical and more needs to be considered.

There are many ways that homeowners can afford to hire a professional contractor while saving money.  It is crucial that any improvements are high quality.  It is possible to pinch pennies on mid-grade materials or find high grade materials in unique places to save within your allotted remodeling budget.  Quality, professional craftsmanship outweighs shoddy do it yourself renovations with high quality materials.

Be frugal in other areas rather than skimping on craftsmanship.  Professional contractors can help homeowners as well.  Consider the following recommendations:

  • Shop when you see items on clearance. Flooring and tiles can be mixed and matched to create a unique flair while saving homeowners money.  A professional contractor will know how to install it in a manner that really enhances the space.
  • In a kitchen remodel save money by replacing the cabinet doors instead of opting to buy new cabinets.

 

Aspen Construction

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Home Renovations That Bring Added Value To Your Home

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

I am often asked how different home improvement can change the value of your home.  The answer to this question will differ from contractor to contractor.  There are a number of renovations that increase the equity of your home however not all of them are as cost effective as others.  Home improvements are not all created equally when it comes to the return of investment.  Below you will find my top choices for homeowners to minimize the expense while increasing the value in your home.

Brighten Up Your Space: There are a number of ways that a home can be lightened up.  Instead of being faced with life in a dull dark home bring light colors to the walls and bring in more natural light to the space.  Neutral colors of lighter shades of paint should be implemented throughout the home along with an increase in lighting with dimmers.  Colors can be brought to a room in the form of accessories.  The pop of color, along with the lighter paint color can really brighten up the spaces within the home.

Real Wood Flooring: If you have some money to spend on your home invest in wood flooring.  When buyers come into a home that has quality flooring that has been well cared for they instantly swoon.  Wood flooring adds value, warmth and so much character to a space.  Don’t skimp on engineered or laminate flooring that looks like wood flooring they affect is never the same.  Go for the real deal.  Find mixed and match pieces of wood flooring through liquidation sales, salvage yards and such to get the best deal possible.  You can stain the floor and dress it up however you want to make it your space.

Enhance the Bath:  Little changes in the bathroom can make a big difference.  Don’t go overboard as that is when the bathroom renovation expenses soar.  Instead opt for a few new fixtures, some lighting changes, fresh paint and new shower caulk and grout. A trendy new mirror and some nice architectural changes really add a lot to the style of the bathroom.  These minimal updates can really impact the perception of the bathroom space without costing homeowners an arm and a leg.

When doing renovations to your home it is important that the work is done by a professional specializing in that area of home improvement.  The quality of the work that is done is just as important if not more important than any other aspect of the remodel.

Aspen Construction is an innovative building leader specializing in home additions, new construction, bathroom and kitchen remodeling.  For all of your home improvement needs including electrical services contact us today at http://www.aspencoinc.com/.

Aspen Construction

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Reasons Behind Filing For Bankruptcy

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Why do people end up filing for bankruptcy?  This is a question that is often posed to bankruptcy attorneys and the answer people expect to get back is that people just aren’t responsible with their credit cards.  This however, more often than not, is not the reason people end up faced with the option of bankruptcy.  In fact most people that are facing bankruptcy dread being there.  It isn’t a decision that has been made freely.  In fact, most people are almost forced into it after spending months on end of harassing calls from creditors and such.

One of the most commonly seen explanations for people looking into bankruptcy is because of illness or disability.  When a family member becomes ill the entire family has to adjust.  This may mean that the family is left without the same budget that they have become accustomed to.  An illness can fall on a parent or child contributing to a change in income.

Not only does the expense of medical care come into play but the loss of income when time off is needed to provide care.  This leaves many families falling behind on bills as payments that were being made were based off of the excepted income to stay the same.   This is a common development that bankruptcy attorneys see in family’s seeking debt relief under federal bankruptcy.

Another common reason that people find themselves filing for debt replied is unemployment.  When individuals are out of work and unable to find a source of income it becomes pretty difficult to pay your bills.  Often what we see is that people will go a period of time without a job and begin to fall short on paying their bills.  As payments start to add up, even after a person does find employment it is difficult to dig them out of the hole they have found themselves in.  For instance, a thirty thousand dollar debt at twenty percent interest is difficult at best to pay off when making only forty five thousand a year.  The debt starts to become overwhelming and leads to desperation.

About thirty percent of people that are going through bankruptcy have also divorce within the past five years.  The ramifications of a divorce aren’t often felt till a few years after the dust has settled on the process as a whole.  This is especially true of women who find they are raising children in a single parent home collecting less than needed to live and raise children.  They begin to fall back on the old standby of payday loans, credit cards and personal loans.  Eventually this catches up to them and they find that there is nowhere else to turn.

There are a number of myths that surround individuals finding they are at need to look into bankruptcy debt relief.  Don’t fall victim when it comes to categorizing things in a simplistic manner.  Most people going through bankruptcy are doing so because they are all out of options and they have nowhere else to turn.

Bohikian Law Group specializes in chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcies in Michigan. Contact us today to find a bankruptcy attorney that will help you in debt relief at http://www.bohikianlaw.com/ today.

Dickron Bohikian Law Group

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Misconceptions Surrounding Bankruptcy

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

There are several misconceptions surrounding bankruptcy and the individuals who seek the relief it can offer.  The biggest one of them is assuming that all individuals who are seeking financial reprieve through bankruptcy have done so because they couldn’t fight the urge of credit card spending.  This however, is not the case for many of the people that find that they are in need of filing bankruptcy.  Here’s a look at some of the other folklore surrounding bankruptcy.

Individuals that file for bankruptcy are financially irresponsible: Although there are some cases in which individuals need to file for bankruptcy because of their own financial irresponsibility this is not always the case.  It is more likely that an individual finds themselves in this situation because of one of the following events: job loss, divorce or illness.

Bankruptcy clears away all past debts: If you are looking for a be all to end all for debts, bankruptcy is not where you will get it.  Not all debt can be cleared away when filing for bankruptcy.  Several, including alimony, child support, restitution from a crime, tax debt and student loan expenses are just a few of the debts that cannot be expunged.  Although bankruptcy does give individuals a fresh financial start it does not completely clear you from all of your outstanding debt.

It’s a good idea to spend with reckless abandonment before bankruptcy:  People should not assume that just because they are about to file for relief that they can max out their current credit.  In the eyes of the court, this type of behavior is seen as fraudulent.  Many times the debt that is racked up in the ninety days before your discharge will need to be paid back.  You will not get away with spending recklessly and expecting it to be discharged.

Bankruptcy permanently ruins your credit: Although it is more difficult to obtain credit in the months after you have filed for bankruptcy it is not impossible.  Most bankruptcy attorneys and financial advisors recommend obtaining a secured credit card when you first are relieved of your debt through bankruptcy.  A secured credit card can be obtained through a bank or other financial institution.  This type of credit card requires a bank deposit to be drawn against.

If you are considering bankruptcy to get relief from debt that is piling up and creditors hounding there are still some things to think about.  First is the expense of filing for bankruptcy.  Hiring an attorney to represent you in filing for bankruptcy is the best option.  This can cost between nine hundred and fifteen hundred dollars depending on your attorney and the area in which you reside.

It is also crucial to consider the difference between chapter 13 bankruptcy and chapter 7.  In chapter 13 bankruptcy the court will assist you in reorganizing your debt and you will be in charge of paying expenses, like your house payment and such while living very modestly.  Chapter 7 discharges certain debts but in doing so you could have to sell secured assets to assist in paying some of your debt back.  Talk with a local bankruptcy attorney to see what option is the best for your situation.

Bohikian Law Group specializes in chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcies in Michigan. Contact us today to find a bankruptcy attorney that will help you in debt relief at http://www.bohikianlaw.com/ today.

Dickron Bohikian Law Group

Collectable System Canes

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

In this installment on antique collectable canes we will take a more extensive look into system canes.  Of all canes, the system cane is the most popular type for collectors because there are a ton of styles to choose from.  The system canes, often referred to as weapon canes, were created to serve a dual purpose.  These canes often hid their actual purpose within.  System canes were often owned by the wealthiest women and men.  They often owned more than one and they were used in the same manner that individuals use wallets and purses.

There are four types of systematic canes based on what purpose they served including:

Professional Canes:  This style of cane was used mainly by tradesmen and business professionals to carry the tools and accessories of their trades.

City Canes: The city cane is most like the decorative cane in that it they were used as fashion accessories.  They mainly were used to store the items of necessity such as watches, opera glasses, cameras and such.

Musical Canes: Canes that are classified as musical canes also served the purpose of an instrument like flutes and violins.

Outdoor Canes:  The outdoor cane keeps hidden the items one would need on outdoor adventures such as fishing, lawn games, bird watching and more.

Weapon Canes: This is the most collectable of all systematic canes.  These canes conceal weapons of all kinds such as swords, daggers, guns and particular tricky weapons that are outfitted with retractable spikes and razors.

There are so many unique styles of systematic canes for collectors to choose from including a number of popular styles for the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.   When it comes to collecting system canes it is important to check to be sure the canes contents are in complete order.  This type of antique cane, since highly prized by collectors, tends to be a bit more expensive.  A collection of system canes is a much more valuable and exclusive compilation.

In my opinion system canes are the most compelling styles of canes to collect.  Whether you desire functional, accessorial, utilitarian or simplistic collections antique systematic canes have much to offer.  In our next installment into antique canes we will dive deeper into the actual anatomy of canes, different display ideas and basic how-to’s on building a one of a kind collection.  Cane collectors are always looking for exclusive pieces that are matchless and uncommon in the world of collecting.  A collection of system canes is sure to offer this.

Antique Cane World is an online retailer of antique canes, walking sticks and umbrellas.  Contact us today for more information on antique canes, unique umbrellas and more at http://www.antiquecaneworld.com/.

Antique Cane World

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