Giving Flowers To Filipino Men

Traditionally, males give flowers to females as a symbol of their love and affection. The delicate form, the subtle scent, and the pure color of any flower can liven up a room---or a heart. Giving flowers is indeed one of the most romantic gestures a man can offer to the special woman in his life not only as a sign of love but also of gratitude and appreciation.

Some of the best flowers in the world can be found right here in the Philippines, and not only that---Filipinos are known to be one of the most romantic people in the world. Where else would a woman want to be? It is no wonder that during anniversaries, Valentine's Day, or just about any occasion that can serve as an excuse, flowers in the Philippines are always there to cheer up women from all walks of life.

But why should girls have all the fun? They can also give flowers to their Special Others! Indeed, it isn't common practice, but isn't an act that's both different and spontaneous more special? The flowers mean as much---as symbols of love and gratitude---but in a totally unique and thus, more meaningful context. Men may like to act all macho and indifferent, but a bunch of nice flowers may just be the exact thing a woman needs to melt their hearts!

Here are some tips for the girls about giving flowers to men:

1.) You can ditch the pink, fancy, curly ribbons in favor of something more simple and straightforward, something that is more appropriate for men. Try elegant green, red, or dark blue wraps for the flowers.
2.) Tuck in a nice card that says it all!
3.) Of course, you can just handpick your flowers if you have a garden; this gives an unforgettable personal touch. If you don't have a garden though, there are many florists in the Philippines (both walk-in and online) that have extensive collections from which you can choose. They will even be happy to wrap the flowers for you and they sell cards as well.
4.) You can make the flower delivery yourself, but you can also have the flowers delivered by the florist to his office or even to his own home for that extra element of surprise. For professional flower shops, delivery of the flowers should be a breeze.

You might be a little apprehensive about the idea, but we assure you that giving flowers need not be something that only the guys do. Offering beautiful flowers is just as eloquent as giving a passionate letter or a simple touch of the hand. Giving flowers is not something confined to gender stereotypes. Ultimately, it is the feeling behind the gesture that counts. So ladies, go for it! You just might be surprised by his reaction.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Send Gifts to the Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can avail of Flower Delivery Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

Exotic flowers in the Philippines

The Philippines is renowned as one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The tropical archipelago is well-known for its beautiful tourist spots, beautiful people, and of course---beautiful flowers! There are several unique species that can be found only in the Philippines. These exotic flowers grow almost anywhere in the hot and moist environment of the country, from well-trimmed hedges to the natural setting of the countryside to the wild, vacant lots smack in the middle of the metropolis.

One of the most distinctive flowers that can be found in the Philippines is what is locally known as the sampaguita. It is the national flower of the country due to its popularity among the natives and its deep involvement in the local culture and traditions. Its American name is Arabian Jasmine while its botanical term is jasminum sambac, being a species of jasmine with small, white, heavily-scented flowers indigenous in South Asia, specifically in Southeast Asia. Its distinctive fragrance is one that is known by every Filipino. In fact, the flower is so popular that it is usually sold on the streets stringed together like a necklace to use as a cheap car air freshener or as a tribute to statues of saints in Churches and in homes. It grows almost anywhere, loving the heat, and does not require a lot of fussing.

Another exotic flower found in the Philippines is the hibiscus or rosemallow which in the vernacular is called gumamela. The shrub is a popular ornamental plant in the country with brightly-colored, five-petaled blooms in red, yellow, pink, purple, white, orange, and various other color combinations. Aside from being an ornamental plant grown in most gardens and hedges in the country, it is also used as a medicinal plant. Gumamela leaves and flowers are used to treat coughs, fever, dysentery, UTI, headaches, swelling, bronchitis, high blood and other common maladies. There are very few flowers in the Philippines cannot equal the medicinal value of the Gumamela.

The ylang-ylang flower is a small, greenish yellow flower which has petals that extend like a starfish. The name is derived from either two Tagalog words----ilang, or “wilderness”, and ilang-ilan, or “rare” It is widely known for its essential oil used in aromatherapy, lowering blood pressure, treating skin problems and as an aphrodisiac.

The sampaguita, gumamela and ylang-ylang are only some of the most popular exotic flowers in the Philippines. There are virtually thousands of other unique flowers that serve to highlight the breathtaking beauty of the Philippines. It may be a small country, but flowers in the Philippines are some of the best and most captivating in the world.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flowers Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can avail of Flower Delivery Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

Elegant Osiana Roses

Maintaining relationships with friends and loved ones is never an easy task. It involves a lot of tricky time management and good memory to keep all our relationships intact and well-oiled! If you're the type of person who has a bad memory and who doesn't have the talent for fixing your schedule to spend time with the important people in your life, you're probably in big trouble. Not all of us have secretaries or personal assistants to do the fussing for us, unfortunately. Sometimes we wish there's a sneaky trick that we can pull off from our sleeves just like the magicians do for when we're a tight spot that we didn't expect we'd find ourselves in.

Here's the sneaky trick: you should have a gift ready for any occasion. Finding THE gift may be pretty hard, but fear not. Here's a gift which is perfect for friends, family, lovers, business partners, or just casual acquaintances. You can give it on birthdays, anniversaries, christenings, or any celebration for that matter. It's distinct enough to be remembered by the celebrant even though it's all-purpose since it's more on the unique side of gift-giving. What it is? Apricot roses.

Apricot roses can mean anything: from its slightly peach tint that conveys sociability and friendship, modesty, appreciation, admiration and sympathy to its orange tint that denotes enthusiasm and desire. Apricot roses have no exact meaning, so you can give it as a gift for any occasion (or even when there's no occasion).

Now that we have determined what gift to give, we should choose where to buy it. If you want the best apricot roses out in the market, try Island Rose's Osiana. It's the name for their apricot hybrid tea rose that has tall and straight stems that measure 55-70cm. The rose is of the large-flowered variety, with a good vase life that can last up to a week and a half, if taken care of properly.

The best part about giving Osiana as a gift is that you don't need to worry about being hassled by delivery since their service is fast and efficient. All you have to do is log on to their website, provide the necessary information, and wait a few days for the delivery. You will receive Osiana on your (or your recipient's) doorstep straight from the farm.

If you're out for awesome gift ideas, try Osiana. Your recipient will definitely appreciate it as a table centerpiece or a living room ornament that will remind them of your extra effort in making them feel special.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flower Shop Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can send Gifts to Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

Flower Giving in the Philippines

In centuries past, giving flowers was common practice. A man does not wait for an occasion to give flowers to the woman that he loves. In fact, just visiting her at home merits enough reason to give her a nice bouquet of flowers! Nowadays though, giving flowers seems to be a dying art. It might be because good flowers are ridiculously expensive and sometimes hard to find. Because of this, some people see flowers as an unnecessary luxury since they only last a week or two. They feel that the money can be better spent on other material objects or a really nice dinner.

Consider: a good bouquet of high-quality flowers in the Philippines can cost up to thousands of pesos. The money can buy someone a cellphone, at least three bestselling hardbound books, classy jewelry, a to-die-for pair of shoes or a flattering dress. Why buy flowers? They don’t last long in the humid and unpredictable climate in the Philippines. Buying them seems to be more than a little impractical does it not?

Yes, but look at it this way: flowers are uniquely beautiful. They have this quality of making any woman feel special that, say, a pair of shoes doesn’t have. Maybe it’s the rarity of receiving flowers in the first place that makes giving it more unforgettable. Nonetheless, the effect cannot be denied. They may be expensive and they may not last long, but giving flowers is the best way to a woman’s heart.

The people in the Philippines are considered as some of the most romantic in the world. We are emotionally deep and expressive of our feelings. Giving flowers should be second nature and yet, we don’t seem to do it that often! If we are going to do it rarely anyway, we should try to get the best. For a while, try to forget the expense and “impracticality”. For once, make your girl feel extra special by giving a beautiful bouquet of red roses on a dinner date. There’s no need to wait for an occasion to manifest your undying love, after all (if it is undying love) so visit the nearest flower shop and buy those blooms! If you’re a bit busy, there are tons of flower shops online where you can order flowers and have them delivered straight to your door.

The practice of giving flowers has been around for centuries and there’s a good reason. Flowers symbolize love so eloquently like no other in the world---and that is why they will never go out of style.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Florist Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can find high quality Roses Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

Pink Noblesse Roses

Saying an honest “Thank You” seems to be a dying art. Not to say that people today are less grateful than they used to be, but sometimes they don't even think of being grateful since the rules have changed. For example, passing fare while riding a jeepney here in the Philippines used to merit a heartfelt “Salamat Po!” from a tired commuter. Now, though, since the act has become such a common practice, people don't bother to say their thanks anymore. It's considered a duty that you pass the fare and the change to fellow commuters. Why should anyone say thank you?

It's the same with our friends, family, and lover. We feel that they have the obligation to do certain things for us like helping us out on a project, paying for our tuition fees, or going out on a date. Since we feel that these things are their obligations to us, we don't even think of saying “Thank You.” Much as we hate to admit it, we take too many things for granted nowadays because of our busy schedules or plain insensitivity. Take your pick. Failing to say thank you in cases such as those mentioned already would not hurt the people concerned, but think about it: expressing your gratitude would make them feel loads better than if you don't.

Just a simple “Thank You” can make anyone's day, especially if you mean it. You don't need to wait for an occasion to write a note or a card to express your thanks---the more random the day, the better your token serves as a special tribute to the person. You can buy a gift and pop it on top of your friend's desk with a short “Thank You” note for that time she gave you a ride home after work and you'll see how much the effort is worth it when she smiles. You can even give salmon (or deep) pink roses to convey “Thank You” to your parents for, oh, so many reasons!

Aside from the usual tokens, give deep pink roses to say “Thank You” to the people that matter to you. If you're looking for the perfect salmon-pink colored rose, visit Island Rose and check out Noblesse. Noblesse is a hybrid tea rose that has long, straight stems and a very good vase life. Island Rose can deliver Noblesse to your doorstep so you don't have to worry about being hassled since their service is fast and efficient, and what's more, the roses come straight from the farm! Put a smile on the faces of your loved ones today and give a Noblesse to make their day extra-nice.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flowers Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can send Flowers to Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

Aalsmeer Flower Auction

If you’ve always wondered where your store-bought cut flowers came from, it’s highly likely that your florist had them flown all the way from The Netherlands.

In the town of Aalsmeer, not far from the bustling city of Amsterdam, is the Aalsmeer Flower auction, the world’s largest flower auction. Established in 1928, over 7 billion cut flowers (half of which are roses) and over 150 million plants are sold every year to buyers around the world. Most of the flowers in the Aalsmeer auction house are grown by local producers, but some are imported from countries like Kenya, Zambia, and Israel.

The Aalsmeer auction house itself is the largest commercial center in the world, with a floor space of over 846,000 square meters. To put things into perspective - that’s about the size of nine football fields, all under one roof. Inside the auction house are carts and carts of all sorts of flowers, from amaranths to zinnias.

The flower auction begins when each cart is shown to the bidders one at a time. The moment a cart is displayed, the large timing clock on the wall starts ticking. As the time falls from 100, so does the price of the cart. The first person who places a bid gets the cart at that price. However, those who wait too long hoping to get a lower price fail to win the item if others are willing to pay more for it.

Losing bidders still have the chance to get some of the flowers in every cart. In each cart are a number of containers, and whoever wins the bid for the cart can choose to take all or just one of the containers. If there are any containers left, the second highest bidder gets to take some or all of the remaining ones. This goes on until all the containers in the cart are sold.

Once a cart is empty, the individual containers are taken and placed onto the cart of the florist who bought them. If, for instance, Florist A bought five containers of sunflowers, these would be placed in Florist A’s cart.

Open on Mondays to Fridays, the Aalsmeer auction house also welcomes flower growers and tourists who would like to witness the largest flower auction in the world. Aalsmeer auctions begin at 6:30 a.m., but the hustle and bustle of transporting, importing, and selling flowers happens round the clock.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flower Delivery Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can Deliver Flowers to Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

Choosing the right flower supplier

The competition in the cut flower trade is definitely strong due to a steady demand from the market, especially during occasions such as Valentine's Day, the wedding month of June and the Christmas Season. There are several companies from which a budding or distinguished florist shop can choose---indeed, the options are varied and almost all of them seem promising. Of course, a florist wants only the best for his or her shop. But how does a florist know which flower supplier to get out of all the ones out there?

It is important to choose the right flower supplier since their services can make or unmake a florist. For example, a late delivery or a batch of limp flowers can easily ruin a business, no matter how established. One must be cautious in order to preserve the initial investment in the business and one of the things to really look out for are good flower suppliers. Thus, here are some points to evaluate in choosing the right supplier for your shop:

1. Quality: What do the flowers look like? Are they carefully cut and without any sign of rot? Does the company have quality control? Make sure to inquire about this, first and foremost. Ask to be shown some flowers and as much as possible, don't settle for pictures only.
2. Freshness: Are the flowers fresh? How long do they stay fresh? Costumers want to enjoy their flowers as long as possible. Flowers wilting just after two to three days of delivery is bad for business.
3. Experience: How long has the supplier been in business? Experience speaks for itself. An established supplier will save you the headache of fine-tuning not only the products but the services too in start-up companies.
4. Staff: Are their staff professional? The flower supplier must have a thoroughly trained staff who can help you on the spot. A good staff can save both you and your supplier time ironing out details and solving complaints from both sides.
5. Delivery service: How fast do they deliver? Flowers are fragile things, prone to crushing, rot, and disease. Shipment should not take long so that the flowers will remain fresh.

There are other details to consider, but these are some of the general ones. Remember, a reliable flower supplier for your florist shop can make your business grow. Make a very careful choice so that you only have the best for your costumers.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flowers Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can find Florist Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

Caring for the Sick

We take care of ourselves the best way we know how by eating well, crossing streets carefully, driving with caution, and taking vitamins. There are infinite ways to take care of our precious health. It is the single most important asset that we have since our success and happiness in life ultimately depend on whether we can get out of bed to work and to be with the people that we love.

However, we all know that getting sick is sometimes unavoidable. It may be due to an accident or disease---there are several causes---but it is a fact of life that most of us are inhibited by sickness at some point in our lives. Some, for the rest of their lives. This causes stress and tension between family members as the cost of medical care is ridiculously expensive here in the Philippines (more so in other countries though). The sick person is not only affected physically but emotionally as well. Depression and boredom cannot be helped, especially if the person has been bedridden for some time. In worse cases, hopelessness by both the sick person and his or her family ensues. This is a sad fact of life.

How do we prevent this depression, this boredom, this hopelessness by the sick? If we know a sick person whom we care about, there are simple ways to pep him or her up. How? By giving flowers! Doing this may not be as final as a clean bill of health, but flowers are excellent cheer-uppers. Their bright colors can light up a whole room and their fragrance can chase out the noxious smell of medication and staleness in the room. The profound positive psychological effect of giving flowers to a person who is sick may be just what he or she needs in the midst of misery.

Make your sick loved one feel special by giving flowers everyday. There are several types of flowers, but roses are fool-proof; more importantly, they are easily available anywhere in the Philippines. To buy roses here in the Philippines, you can walk in at a florist's shop or visit online shops that offer efficient delivery.

Giving light pink roses say that you admire and sympathize with the person. Giving peach roses, on the other hand, conveys sociability and friendship. Red, of course, says that you love the person very much. You don't need to give a bouquet of roses everyday. One stalk can make all the difference. Imagine it at the bedside when your sick loved one wakes up in the morning and even you will feel a bit lighter!

Add a personal note to the single rose or bouquet of roses. Make the person feel extra special by consoling and assuring him or her that you will be there throughout his or her sickness. The flower is just an exclamation point to how you feel. Remember, show that you care for the person---giving flowers just makes it all the more beautiful.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Send Gifts to the Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can send Flowers Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

Staying Over in Doha, Qatar

Doha is the capital of Qatar, a city that has its roots as a fishing village named Al Bida. As Qatar became a more significant player in the Middle East’s role in the world and became a British protectorate, Al Bida became the capital city and the name changed to Doha. It served a major role for the nation as a whole, being both the largest city and the primary center for the two largest exports of the nation, fishing and pearling. With the discovery of oil outside the peninsula, Doha became the petroleum center for the nation, taking the nation from a desolate recession (due to Japanese cultured pearls) to the forefront of oil producing nations, and by extension, the forefront of the richest nations of the world. Standing now as the richest nation in the world (highest GDP per capita, according to the CIA), Doha is the penultimate diamond in the rough, an oasis of high civilization and luxurious living in the vast sand dunes of Qatar.

Doha International Airport is the only internationally serving airstrip in the nation, so anyone flying in to Qatar will already be in the capital city. From there, getting anywhere inside of Doha is a cinch, due to the easily accessible roads, vast bus and taxi systems, and the highway system that is under constant expansion by the Qatari government. Being the capital of such a rich nation means that the government seated in Doha can afford a lot of high-class expansion: this is reflected in the vast amount of activities and tourist attractions offered to anyone visiting Doha.

For sports, Doha offers several stadiums where you can watch a football game, tennis matches, or even go to one of the aquatic centers where you can see any number of swim competitions or just get in the pool and cool off. Doha was host to the 2006 Asian Games, which was the largest Asian Games in history. Doha was also, until June 4th of 2008, on the shortlist of applicant cities for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Doha has a semi-typical Arabian climate, being warm year round because of the latitude of Qatar as a nation. However, the dry and abrasive air of some countries in the Mid-East is offset by the surrounding ocean of Qatar, making the air more moist than most other nations in the region. Winter months in Doha are much more pleasant, offering temperatures from the low twenties to the mid teens, making the city an ideal place to visit for a holiday towards the end of the year.

Visitors to Qatar have their interests protected by the Qatar Tourism Authority, a branch of the Qatari government that looks into taking care of people of various nations coming into Doha to see their nation. They oversee all of the hotels and various places where people can stay when visiting the country. By also providing a rating system from one to five stars for any accommodation, the QTA makes sure that people know what each hotel offers.

Most of the hotels in Doha are of a high caliber, providing services from boat rental and yacht chartering to discounts and packages for people looking to go try the variety of sports and activities offered around the city and the surrounding countryside. Most hotels combine restaurants and various amenities into their building to provide a cohesive experience to all of their customers.

Doha is the very definition of a modern Arab city, featuring some of the most liberal laws of any Middle Eastern nation; alcohol is even allowed through permits issued by the national government. The legal system’s roots are based in Islamic law but the interpretation is much looser than one would find in more staunch nations such as Egypt or Iran.

In summary, staying in Doha is the kind of experience that one never forgets, and something that anyone who has the opportunity to do, should. The care that shown to anyone visiting this rich city by far outstrips what one would find in almost any other country on Earth. Combining this with the rich cultural and entertainment value of Doha alone, let alone the whole of Qatar, makes visiting the capital of the richest nation in the world a goal that anyone should set for himself or herself while they can.

The author is the owner of a Qatar Hotels website. To learn more on Doha Hotels visit http://bestqatarhotels.com

Restaurant Flower Design

As customers and diners trickle into your restaurant, they will take a moment to look around and absorb their surroundings, especially while they wait to be seated. If you decorate the place right, your customers will feel the ambiance created by the elegant and stylish elements of your décor.

Fresh flowers that complement your restaurant’s interior and color scheme will help produce a warm, welcoming, and hospitable environment. Raise your diners’ spirits and make them feel welcome by placing a small, artistically-made arrangement of fresh flowers on each table.

Flower arrangements for a restaurant centerpiece can range from modest to lavish. When considering flower arrangements for each table, keep in mind that the flowers are there to add charm to your restaurant, not serve as a distraction. As such, choose a petite arrangement placed in a shallow bowl. Never get large floral centerpieces that obstruct the view from across the table, as this will make it difficult for your diners to talk to each other. The centerpiece should never be the center of the table’s conversation.

Whatever flower arrangement you’ve chosen, you can always add fruits to it to make it appear more colorful, interesting, and sweet-smelling. Citrus fruits in particular go great with the scent of some roses. Try adding the fruit as a whole or cutting them into slices. Be careful while using fruits though - make sure you don’t allow the fruit to get ripe near the flowers, as this will shorten the arrangement’s lifespan. If it goes with the overall look of the centerpiece, you can also add sprigs of dried flowers to the arrangement.

Finally, choose flowers that will live five to seven days when watered regularly, like hydrangeas and chrysanthemums. While other short-living flowers might look pretty, replacing them every two or three days will get too costly. Get the ones that have lots small buds as these can live for up to two weeks, and remove the wilting flowers as the buds start to blossom.

Add water to the vase every day to ensure a fresh supply of nutrients. When your restaurant closes, keep the flower arrangements in the fridge; they should be able to fit in there if they are small, shallow arrangements. To make the flowers last even longer, get a flower preservative from your florist or place two drops of bleach into the water to preserve the petals and to prevent bacteria growth.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Send Gifts to the Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can find Flower Shop in the Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

The Perfect Gift

While our options today are almost bottomless, we somehow manage to go back to flowers when we pick out the perfect gift. As a jeweler residing in the Philippines, I get requests every so often asking me to cast diamonds at the center of flower shaped earrings or make a gold bracelet look like a little lei. I honestly could not help but wonder why flowers work and has always been considered as perfect gifts. Is it their appearance? Could it be because of their aroma? Below are some of my guesses:

Flowers are available everywhere, year-round.
Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, anniversaries, graduations, birthdays, and funerals are just some of the most common occasions where we see flowers. These plants are definitely the best “safe” call for cramming gift givers. I am honestly not fond of getting flowers wrapped in plastic. My bright little suggestion: put some personal touches, have a pretty bunch wrapped in beautiful gift-wrapping tissue, and have it tied by satin ribbons. I can almost imagine the smile on the receiver’s face!

Flowers fit everyone’s budget.
With the premise above that flowers are everywhere, this means that they are marketed and sold to cater to all economic classes. For the budget shopper, head to the Dangwa Flower Market, the Philippines’ most popular flower resource, early in the morning for the cheapest rates. No time to drive to Manila? Online shopping is the perfect answer.

Flowers say everything.
Most of us learned in grade school that according to its color, the meaning of flowers differs from each other. It is a fact that they have been the only means of communication by lovers and soldiers in the past. Who would have thought that plants can actually do all the talking?

Flowers can leave one breathless.
Flowers are hands down, beautiful in their own right. Countless hybridizations and combinations have produced stunning results making its new breeds far more beautiful than its parents. I have seen massive displays both here in the Philippines and in Singapore and it just leaves me gawk in awe seeing them arranged to form a particular figure as seen in parks or parades.

May it be the plant, a piece of clothing, or a piece of jewelry embellished with the world’s most popular accent, flowers indeed make the most timeless and perfect gifts year round. Fitting your budget and the recipient’s personality will never be your problem as flowers come in all costs, forms, sizes, and colors.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flowers Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can send Philippines Flowers or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

The Pros of Wallpaper

Choosing between paint and wallpaper when making a wall makeover can be a major dilemma, as both have their own set of advantages. Paint has been the preferred option because it is the cheapest way to redo walls and the easiest to apply. But choosing paint over wallpaper and borders also has its own pitfalls. Paint fades much quicker compared to modern wallpaper. It needs more restoration or revamping jobs than wallpaper too.

Wallpaper, on the other hand, has tons of advantages especially if you perceive it as a long term investment. Walls clad in wallpaper and borders do look more attractive, especially when they blend well with the room’s fixtures and theme. Wallpaper gives a wall a much nicer detail that paint cannot parallel. Aside from that, wallpaper lasts 10-15 years, which is economically sound, considering that paint jobs need to be redone every 2 years. A homeowner can save as much as 30% for painting costs if he chooses to use wallpaper over paint.

While some argue that traditional wallpaper and wallpaper borders are more difficult to install than paint, modern technology has allowed manufacturers to produce easy to apply and easy to remove wallpaper, wallpaper murals, and wallpaper borders. Most brands today offer a one-step application process, which also makes its repositioning and removal easier. Most wallpapers today are pre-pasted; all the homeowner has to do is cut the wallpaper into strips, dip them in water, and apply them to the walls. Of course, careful and meticulous wall preparation is still an elemental factor if one is to achieve a great finish with wallpaper.

Another advantage of using wallpaper and borders over paint is the wide range of designs and textures they present to the homeowner. While paint may be glossy, achieving the desired shade and hue can be tricky and messy especially when mixing two or more colors. Sometimes, a paint job requires professional help, especially when dealing with oil-based paints. In contrast, wallpapers offer an assortment of designs like landscapes, flora and fauna, geometric shapes, classical themes, among others. Textured wallpapers are also increasingly popular, especially those with faux finishing details. They give walls a vivacity that paint simply cannot deliver.

With a wide selection of wallpaper, murals, and wallpaper borders to choose from, a homeowner can embellish his or her abode according to his or her personality. Men almost always prefer wallpapers that exert a sense of masculinity especially in the living room. Women typically like wallpaper and borders that radiate soft colors and patterns. Needless to say, children in their preteens want their walls to burst with colors and child-friendly patterns. Teenagers, on the other hand, fancy having walls that assert their cool personality --- they are likely to prefer designs that display their hobbies, role models or the music they are into.

Its durability, ease of application, luxurious, stylish motifs and allowance for personalization – wallpaper may very well be the best choice for wall designing or makeovers.

Tammy Billings is the owner of USA Wallpaper, an online retailer of designer wallpaper borders and wall murals. Her knowledge of the wallpaper industry, from manufacturing to installation makes her a valuable home and interior design resource. With a variety of bedroom, bathroom and kitchen wallpaper designs, Tammy has put USA Wallpaper at the forefront of online wallpaper companies.

Sending Farm Fresh Flowers

Flowers should be beautiful. Flowers should be stunning. Flowers should leave you wide-eyed and completely speechless when you receive them unexpectedly. But their visual beauty isn’t everything – flowers are also loved for their scent, their freshness, their quality, and the length of time they live in a vase. That’s why you need to make sure that you send nothing less than premium farm fresh flowers to the woman in your life.

How do you know that what you’re getting are flowers straight from the farm? Ask your florist where they get their flowers. The average flower shop rarely ever grows their own flowers; instead, they get their product from a wholesaler or a series of middlemen. While the shipping process of the flower industry is designed so that the flowers don’t wilt as they are being sent from country to country, flowers are easily perishable and they do lose some of their freshness during the journey.

Florists that offer farm fresh flowers grow their own products and allow you to choose from hundreds of varieties from that very day’s flower harvest. The flowers that are on display are no ordinary flowers, but perfect blossoms grown using nothing less than state-of-the art greenhouses and facilities. Once you place your order, the florist gets the flowers straight from the fields and arranges them in a bouquet before shipping them out to you or the recipient using speedy, first class mail service.

Often, farm fresh flowers are shipped while they’re still in their young bud form. Not only does this give you the pleasure of watching your bouquet bloom before your very eyes, the buds also protect the bloom while the flowers are being shipped, which ensures the freshness of your bouquet. They will also last far longer; flower buds can live for as long as two weeks. Your farm fresh florist will only send you flowers that have been cut just at the right moment to give you glowing blooms and a long vase life.

Farm fresh flowers might be more expensive than the average kind you see at the corner florist because of the technology used to grow them as well as the efficiency of the shipping service. However, they are worth every single peso you pay for. Not only do you get a large bouquet of blooming flowers delivered right at the recipient’s door; farm fresh flowers are the highest quality flowers you can get at the market because they are shipped straight from the grower. You get what you pay for and once you see what a truly fresh bouquet looks like, you’ll realize that the flowers you’re buying are a pretty good deal.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flowers Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can send Philippines Flowers or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

How to Make Your Own Flower Arrangement

On their own, flowers are beautiful and colorful enough to pick up the mood in any room, but just think of how everything will look ten times more incredible if you arrange your flowers cleverly. There are no hard and fast rules to flower arranging, but there are a couple of guidelines and measures you might want to consider if you want to create a striking flower arrangement worth airtime on a Martha Steward episode.

Consider the size and space where you intend to place your arrangement, as well as the shape of your container and the number of flowers you intend to use. For instance, if your flower arrangement will be placed on the dining table, your flower arrangement should be no more than nine inches high; otherwise your guests will have difficult making conversation across the table.

If you want to put your arrangement on a living room side table, a large vase with a spray of flowers will look overcrowded and out of place; use a small vase and lesser flowers instead. You may also want to use green, water-retaining foams for your fresh cut flowers as these absorb water better than the brown foam used for artificial flowers.

To make a visually pleasing arrangement, use flowers in different stages of development, from tiny buds to open blooms. Put the buds and the smallest flowers at the edges and the top of the arrangement, and the full blooms at the middle or in front of the arrangement. The full blooms are the focal point of the design, whereas the buds work as the accent. Flowers in half-bloom can be placed anywhere between the two.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match different colors, shapes, and textures. Generally speaking, there are three shapes of flowers. Line materials are straight leaves like iris leaves and flowers like lilies, and are used to form the outline of your arrangement. Round flowers like open roses, carnations, and daisies usually make the focal point. Intermediate or filler flowers or small foliage are placed between the other flowers and fill in the design.

Finally, forget the rules and let your instincts take over. The great thing about arranging flowers is that it doesn’t take years and years of training to make them look stunning; after all, flowers are already beautiful things on their own. Pay attention and let your eyes be the judge – you don’t need to be an expert to know which flowers look best next to each other.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flower Delivery Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can find Florists Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

Select The Best Carrier for Your Canine Friend

A dog carrier is your best choice when it comes to traveling long distances with your little friend. It is basically a padded bag with sufficient space to accommodate your pet comfortably. They are of varied sizes, shapes and styles. The market is flocked with different types of dog carriers like dog strollers, dog crates, designer dog carriers and the newly fashionable dog backpack. Which one you choose depends largely upon the size and the breed of the dog you have; and the lifestyle you wish to include your dog in.

With lots of choices for a dog carrier there are some factors that should be noted before buying one. You should make sure that the carrier you purchase has:

1. A safety snaps to clip onto your dog's collar to prevent your dog from jumping out.

2. Adequate ventilation at both ends of the carrier at least, preferably also at the top of the dog carrier.

3. A comfortable and easy clean interior.

4. Storage pockets for treats and other necessities is a nice extra feature Available at affordable prices, these dog cages and dog carriers are suitable for all type of dog breeds, irrespective of their size and color of their coat. Whether you own a small pug or a medium sized Labrador, a dog carrier will help you have your pet close to your side at all time with minimum inconvenience. The best part is that dog carriers are now available with wheels that make it easier than ever to pull along! A soft sided, ergonomically designed dog cage with padded dog shoulder straps is ideal. However, one of the most important things to look out for when purchasing dog carriers is size. A small dog carrier is best for dogs that weight around 8 pounds; while a medium dog carrier can carry 15 pounds of canine weight; larger dog carriers are capable of withstanding 30 pounds of dog weight.

When you have a dog that weighs 15 pounds or more it will difficult to carry that dog in an over the shoulder carrier. You might opt for a suitcase style carrier in this case. If your dog weighs over 9 pounds, you might as well forget about a fashion carrier. You will need a practical carrier. The dog world of fashion does cater to the smaller teacup breeds. These are dogs anywhere from 2 to 7 pounds in weight. If your dog fits this category you will have a wider array of choices and fashion styles. Whatever you do, don't buy a carrier that is too large for your dog. You want a carrier that your dog can snuggle and stretch in comfortably. Place a soft blanket or piece of soft fleece material and your dog's favorite toy in the carrier. Your budget will determine what type and how many carriers you can buy.

Poochieheaven is a luxury dog boutique that strives to give your pampered pooch the highest quality dog apparel products available. It has grown to a great online store to buy luxury dog clothes, dog beds, dog carriers, dog accessories, and dog leads for even the most spoiled pooches.

Choose The Right Dog Bed For Your Pooch

Do you know what exactly is a dog’s home? It is his bed. And so selecting the right dog bed is important. Some owners already have an idea of what they are looking for in a dog bed, but other owners are unsure of even where to begin looking for one. While it may seem as easy as just going to a local store and selecting a bed, there are actually a large variety to consider, and with this comes a variety of different factors to take into consideration before purchasing a bed.

5. The Price

One price does not fit all when it comes to beds for dogs. Similar to human beds, there are a variety of different brands and costs. Believe it or not, there are even designer and luxury dog beds available! These will offer extra cushioning, extra support and extra room. Many of them actually resemble a couch while others look similar to a human bed. Some designer dog beds that are specially ordered will even be personalized with the dog’s name.

4. Pet Size

There are a large variety of dog breeds from very small to extra large and with this comes a wide variety of different dog bed sizes available. One of the most important factors to consider when selecting one is the size of your dog. Although you might simply think a small dog will need a small bed and a large dog will need a larger one, it isn’t always this simple. Remember that if you are looking at the same bed in two different sizes, it is quite possible that the larger bed will cost a substantial amount more than the smaller bed, simply because it costs more for the extra materials.

3. Pet Health

Orthopedic dog beds are available that add extra support for older pets or pets with joint injuries, such as hip problems, disc problems, knee problems or are just old and have trouble getting around. Most orthopedic beds are made from similar materials as human orthopedic beds, with high-density foam that allows for extra support on the joints and makes it much easier to go from sitting to standing.

2. Choice of Fabric

Believe it or not, dog beds are available in canvas, denim, fleece, cotton, suede and even upholstery material. Your choice of fabric will be dependent on the type of dog you own and the climate you live in. For dog owners with a long-haired dog or an outdoor dog like a Siberian Husky, you will want to select a cool cotton or canvas, so they won’t overheat while staying inside the house.

1. Durability

Durability is incredibly important when considering a dog bed. You want to find the best quality and comfort for your dog, and once you find the right one, it should last a lifetime. Shop around and find the best; your dog deserves it.

The best Dog bed should provide:

A private space and sense of security;
Insulation from the floor in both winter and summer;
Cushioning joints and bones;
Controls to spread of hair, dirt, and dander.

Getting a dog bed will also save your furniture, as your dog will soon prefer his bed to your sofa.

Poochieheaven is a luxury dog boutique that strives to give your pampered pooch the highest quality dog apparel products available. It has grown to a great online store to buy luxury dog clothes, dog beds, dog carriers, dog collars, and dog leads for even the most spoiled pooches.

Dog Clothes For Halloween

Remember the old Halloween day? When adults escort their children door to door with the children dressed up in cute, scary and funny costumes. Halloween is no longer limited to small children with big imaginations. Even their furry friends (dogs) can also dress up for Halloween.

The demand for Halloween dog clothes has grown in the past number of years. Some families like to have their dog with them while trick-or-treating for security purposes; how about dressing your buddy up for Halloween and allow him to have fun too. Some dogs like getting dressed up and the attention they get. However, those which are not party animals may become stressed. Nothing to worry about it, here are some tips that may get your best friend in the mood.

First of all it’s not needed to wait until Halloween day. Start a couple of weeks before to get the dog clothes for your pet. Allow your dog sniff around the costume, lay it over him for a minute, praise him and give him a treat. Do this several times. Every day follow this procedure, leaving the costume on longer each time. Then loosely put the costume on your doggy and repeat what you have done in the instructions above. A minute at first and then gradually take longer increments. Accompany this with many of treats and much praise. If your dog gets nervous and agitated, and does not liking the costume idea, forget it. Get an alternative dog cloth that your buddy feels comfortable with.

For you dog to feel comfortable with the costume that you select, some important factors should be noted. The correct fit is important. The dog clothes should not be too tight or constricting. Remember that the dog clothes should not cause overheating. The costume should be checked for things that may be poisonous or that may choke your doggy. Your dog needs atmost care when it wears a costume. A dog should not at any time be left unattended when wearing a costume.

Now, where will you get dog clothes that perfectly fit your pooch? Buying dog clothes is much easier than ever before. The introduction of online websites makes dog cloth shopping a breeze. If you are confused with the wide variety of dog clothes that’s available in the market today, you can also seek expert’s advice in these websites. So what are you waiting for? Get your pooch some clothes and let’s have a safe and happy Halloween.

Poochieheaven is a luxury dog boutique that strives to give your pampered pooch the highest quality dog apparel products available. It has grown to a great online store to buy luxury dog clothes, dog beds, dog carriers, dog collars, and dog leads for even the most spoiled pooches.

The Meaning of Pink Roses: Love and Gratitude

Pink roses are one of the oldest roses known to us and have a rich history that dates back to some of the earliest pieces of visual art. In the Talmud, it is written that pink roses are the only flowers allowed to bloom in Jerusalem; thus, they came to be associated with paradise. Pink roses were the dominant species of wild roses and were the first flowers to evolve into their present-day form. When roses were first cultivated in the 18th century for commercial use, most of them existed in shades of pink – from a pale, almost white to a deep crimson.

With the development of hybridization techniques and the discovery of new rose species, flower growers introduced new shades of pink to the public. At around this time, roses were also imbued with the ability to bloom all throughout the year - a significant development since garden roses only blossomed once a year. As more shades and species evolved, each began to have their own meanings, and the meaning of pink roses became even more refined.

Today, pink roses are known as symbols for love and gratitude. These pink flowers also carry undertones of elegance, grace, sweetness, and poetic romance. Because the pink rose was more prevalent over other garden-variety roses, it became strongly associated with these positive sentiments. Different shades of pink also carry their own meanings. Light pink roses symbolize admiration, gentleness, and can be used to bring messages of sympathy. Fuchsia-toned roses can mean appreciation and gratitude and are traditionally used to express thanks. As a decorative presence in the corner of a room, the aroma, color, and shape of a bouquet of pink roses can make everything look small and shabby in comparison.

Due to the many ways where they can be used to express a wide range of meanings and emotions, pink is the most popular rose color, second only to red. The symbolic importance as well as the delicate appearance and sweet fragrance associated to all roses are traced back to the oldest of flowers – the pink rose. Although much has changed about it throughout history, pink roses have held a consistent, prominent place in the world of flowers. Today, pink roses have a unique position that represents refinement and elegance while communicating admiration and thanks. Any recipient of a bouquet of pink roses will not only be taken aback by their beauty; that person is sure to feel special and loved.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flowers Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can avail of Flower Delivery Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

Flower Photography Equipment

Shooting flowers in the great outdoors is considered to be a pastime more than work. The relaxing feel of the outdoors in national heritage sites and parks is enjoyed by many outdoor photographers. Going on such outdoor day shoots requires some equipment especially if you’re using a digital SLR. I currently enjoy my Nikon D40, probably the most affordable digital SLR bought from Hidalgo for a mere P21, 000.00. If you want to do some flower photography, it would be a great idea to invest in a few lenses.

The cheapest lens you can get that yields great results is a 50mm prime lens with an aperture of f/1.8. A lot of photographers have dubbed this lens as the “nifty fifty” because it delivers absolutely clear photos for a price less than a hundred dollars. This lens is available for both Canon and Nikon DSLR brands with Nikon’s being slightly more expensive. The true benefit of this lens is that it takes very good portraiture, allowing your flower subject to stand out clearly while blurring the background.

If you have a little bit more money to burn I would highly recommend a macro lens. My personal lens of choice is an old inheritance - a Micro Nikon Auto f/3.5 macro lens which I’ve seen all over the Internet. It’s not being sold in stores anymore but you can probably grab one from eBay if by some twist of fate the previous owner has decided to sell.

If you’re going to go “deep” with shooting, you will definitely need a mini tripod or a monopod to deliver versatile shots. You can find pretty versatile mini tripods for less than P400.00 in some malls. But I suggest investing in more durable tripods such as the mini GorrilaPod that retails for about a thousand bucks. A monopod, on the other hand will help you get sturdy in thick situations like when inside bushes or when the area does not give you the luxury of spreading out a tripod through a wider plane.

With a variety in equipment coupled with the basics of photography, shooting flowers outdoors can be a therapeutic and rewarding experience altogether!

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Send Gifts to the Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can avail of Flower Delivery Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

The Signs Your Business May Be Lacking Entrepreneurialism

Is your business heading places? Many companies are too focused on their day-to-day operations and office politics to consider their businesses DNA. This article will help your business identify the signs that you’re lacking in entrepreneurialism, and it should also give you ideas on how you can inject this into your business.

Penny Pinching

When you are less focused on entrepreneurialism and growth, you may find that your business spends its days trying to decrease expenses and bump-up margins. This is certainly something that’s worthwhile doing, but when this is your businesses core focus, it’s usually a sign that the business has less than exciting plans ahead.

When you are reducing expenses make sure they aren’t ones that are going to stutter your business progress. If you find that your spending money on an advertisement and it’s not performing well, then this is an expense you should cut. But, you should probably re-invest that money back into advertising and growing the business – rather than simply counting it as a penny saved.

Unwilling To Innovate

Entrepreneurialism is as much about innovation as anything else. If your business constantly has a beady eye on your competitors, and you are only introducing ideas that work for them, then this is probably a great indication that it’s time to get back to the drawing board. Companies that are constantly innovating tend to be perceived better within their market – they get first player advantage, they can often make their innovation defensible, and they build up brand equity through positioning themselves as a market leader.

If you are not doing this at the moment, you could be. Entrepreneurialism doesn’t grow on trees, and that’s why you need to employ experts who are able to think creatively. Where do you see your industry in ten years time? You want to be the business that defines where your industry is going.

Although you should aim for industry-defining innovation, it’s easy to make small changes that make a big difference. You could be the first business to move your call centres back to the UK; the first business in your industry to start a corporate blog; the first business to switch to a free phone telephone number; or you could gain heaps of PR through being positioned as the best employer in your industry. Google introduced free meals for their staff, and that worked a treat. What could you do?

Your Brand Is Lacking In Personality

Entrepreneurialism may be rife within your organisation at a product level, but what about at a brand level? What’s your brand doing to stand out from the crowd? Some businesses have developed their brand through delivering a quality product over a sustained period – The New York Times, Morgan Stanley and Burberry. Some businesses brand identity will suggest that they are quirky, funny, ethical or even cheap. Once you have decided what you want your brand to say about your business, it is then your turn to augment that impression in the eyes of consumers. If you and your staff don’t know what your brand is about, how can consumers?

CityLocal is the fastest growing UK business directory. If entrepreneurialism is at your core, you could consider our franchising opportunities. www.citylocal.co.uk & www.citylocal.ie.

Surprising Someone with Flowers

Surprising someone with flowers can undoubtedly brighten anyone’s day. Presented tastefully, surprises can leave beautiful and unforgettable memories. Cooking up a game plan is not always easy nor is convenient so before you begin, make sure that this person is actually worth the effort you are about to exert and the money you are about to burn.

Popping a surprise in school has been done too many times already but that does not mean you cannot perform one yourself. Favorites include leaving a single flower by the locker door (if you know the combination then hiding a huge bunch of flowers shouldn’t be a problem) and having a delivery guy excuse the recipient from her (or his) class. In my college, you can hire the school choir year-round and have them present your flowers with a serenade. While it is already show stopping as it is, I found this gesture very sweet. From the first time I have witnessed an a cappella serenade, I’ve secretly wished that I’d get a similar surprise in the future.

Offices are common venues for surprises as well where the effort goes anywhere from an anonymous delivery to a grand gesture where each colleague gives the recipient a stem every hour the whole day. I reckon our side (the side where almost all the women are) of the floor, literally buzzing every Valentines Day because of the flowers and the rumor mongering that goes with it.

The flowers used in surprises need not be cut plants all the time. I have been to a birthday party in the past where there was an ice carving shaped as Cherry Blossom flower or Sakura tree. In her speech delivery, the celebrant admitted that she was surprised to see the ice carving because she has always been fond of Sakuras and have always dreamed of the day she would get to touch one and somehow feel the gentle and cool breeze that accompanied its falling (from the trees).

Coming home to a trail of petals leading to a warm bathtub filled with even more petals would just be wonderful after a long day at work or long hours working out at the gym. The light floral aroma and the feeling of being enveloped in hundreds of flower petals is just pure bliss. The ultimate surprise I can think of to even magnify this beautiful moment involves a velvet box that contains a metal band encrusted with nothing but high-grade diamonds.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Florist Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can avail of Flower Delivery to Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

General Tips for Flower Photography

There is nothing more bedazzling than an open field of flowers reaching out from the ground to caress the sun. As any amateur or professional photographer would claim, flowers have always been a staple subject in photography classes, being delivered by the bulk to the studio or having hobbyists going out to various flower markets.

If your conditions for shooting flowers are fixed by a studio, checking the fresh batch of delivery helps you segregate the worn flora from those that can be used. Damaged petals, impurities in the color and how the stems curve are a few things you can look at.

The general guidelines for shooting flowers are really a reflection of the basics of photography. In sum, a photographer should first of all, identify the subject: are you shooting the entire flower arrangement, or are you just highlighting a portion of your subject. Determining your subject will depend on the context of your shoot. Usually, straight out product shots involves having to shoot the entire flower arrangement plus the vase to see the subject in its entirety. Lifestyle shots do not require having to show the entire subject from bud to stem to vase and would rather settle for a creative execution.

Determining the subject also entails the use of some photography tips. The use of patterns or “abstracting” flowers is a common tip that you can never go wrong with. Rather than highlighting the flower as well, a flower it would be interesting to see the flower as a mere shape. This means highlighting the flower’s petal outline, going up close and focusing on the structure of the veins, or going wide and taking a row of flowers as they shoot towards the sky.

A tip when shooting veins is to have a natural backlight behind the flower (an artificial light source like candles or house lights or best of all - natural, but not direct sunlight) to highlight the lines and patterns The end result is a play with shapes and lines that “lead” your eyes to a certain part of the photo. An example of the leading lines technique would be to highlight petal veins that lead your eyes towards the center of the flower bud, which is your main subject. Another example would be to shoot the flower from its side with the stem leading up to the flower bud.

Using leading lines and abstraction techniques are two simple ways to identify and style your subject, specifically with flowers.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flower Shop Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can send Gifts to Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

The Beginner’s Guide To Business Franchising

Business franchising is a method used by a franchiser to license a franchisee to trade under their business name, sell their products and leverage their brand. Business franchising has lots of advantages for the franchiser and the franchisee. In this article we explore these advantages, and look at how business franchising works.

Why Would A Franchiser Want To Sell A Franchise?

A franchiser would want to sell a franchise for many reasons. First of all, they earn money from initially selling the franchise, and they also make money on an on-going basis in the form of a management fee paid by the franchisee.

If the franchiser wanted to grow the business on their own, and cut out the franchisee, they would have to put more capital on the table. They would also be risking that capital, and they would most likely have to pay for it in the form of equity dilution or interest. Another strong benefit for the franchisee is that their business model is less risky on an on-going basis. They will earn their money from franchisees as a percentage of revenue. That means that even if the business does not make money, they will still earn their management fee. It is also not possible to run at a trading loss from a franchise. Furthermore, cannibalisation is only an issue if it puts off franchisees. As you earn money as a percentage of revenue, cannibalisation will not have an impact on aggregate franchisee revenue; it will only affect the profitability of franchisees.

The best way to think about business franchising from the franchisers perspective is to consider the opportunity cost of going down this route. What are they giving up on? In the long run they will earn a lesser chunk of the revenue generated; the earnings of the franchisee. They might also risk franchisees playing havoc with their brand.

Why Would A Franchisee Want To Buy A Franchise?

A franchisee would want to buy a franchise for many reasons. They will be able to leverage the business of a proven brand, and therefore they should see results much quicker than if they decided to go-it alone. They will also be able to get started in business with nothing more than passion and capital; the franchiser will usually hold their hand and help them get things on the road.

When you are a franchisee, and you own a franchise with a relatively popular franchise, it can be easy to sell the business if it is profitable and well run. You might be able to sell it back to the company, or you might sell it to someone else. When you are slogging away for your profit and wages year-after-year, it’s good to know you are building up an asset at the same time. Usually it would be rare for a small business, similar to the ones that adopt a franchising model, to be sold. Usually it would be handled in an asset-bases transaction.

Business franchising is simple, and when you’re making your initial investment, you’re buying an asset. However, you do have to consider that you may experience a better return, and more growth potential through going-it alone.

CityLocal has franchisee opportunities available in the lucrative internet advertising industry. CityLocal is the UK’s No1 business directory. www.citylocal.co.uk & www.citylocal.ie.

Guide To Internet Business Success

Is your business seeing the kind of returns you should expect from your internet website? If not, then you will be able to get things up to speed in no time through following the steps outlined in this article. Through showing dedicated, and a willingness to invest, you will find that the results can often be lucrative and far more tangible than offline marketing initiatives.

Making Your Internet Website Look Pretty

Did your business cut corners when getting your website designed? Did you go with the cheapest or the most local internet web designer, rather than going with the best? If so then you should pay another web designer that has what it takes. If you have a relatively simple website, in terms of functionality, you should be able to get an attractive website designed for £500-£2,000. This gives you the platform that you will need to go places. The best thing that you can do when evaluating design agencies is to look at their portfolio, and to contact their clients for references. Sure, the company will only show you their best examples, but at least you can see what they are capable of. Most web design companies do not understand internet marketing, and most internet marketing firms are not the best at web design. Try to use a different company for both.

Finding An Internet Marketing Agency That Can Deliver Results

Most web designers will be happy for you to pay them for internet marketing services, but it is unlikely that they will be able to deliver the best results for your business. Try to find an agency that understands your business, and that has a track-record for delivering results. With internet marketing no case studies can show you the tangible results that the business experienced through choosing a particular agency. Get on the phone and find out what results their clients have experienced from their internet marketing efforts.

Get Blogging

You should get a blog put up on your business website. This is a quick and easy way for you to add content to your internet website, and will also provide a way for you to build credibility in your field, increase your search engine rankings, and provide a way for your customers to engage with your brand. When blogging, try not to be too corporate or PR-focused. Be real, be insightful, and try to position yourself as a thought-leader in your field. When you take this approach the results will usually speak for themselves.

Get Connected

Try to find the place online where people are talking about your industry, or where potential customers or partners hang-out. Other industry blogs, industry forums and social networking sites are usually best. If you are really passionate about your industry you will usually enjoy doing this anyway, and the results can be great too. In the online word, people like to be able to put a face to a company. You can be that face of your business on the internet.

CityLocal is a local UK directory. CityLocal has a franchisee opportunity available for work at home entrepreneurs. www.citylocal.co.uk & www.citylocal.ie.

Easy Work At Home Business Ideas

Starting a business is not meant to be easy. However, if you pick the right idea, there is work from home business ideas that can be started on a limited budget, and be up-and-running in no time. The trick is to find a business that requires a low initial investment, few staff, and no office. While there are likely hundreds of ideas that fit the bill, this article attempts to get your creative juices flowing through introducing a few ideas that are easy to start.

Franchisee

Work from home business franchisees can be a great way to get a business off the ground in no time. These include recruitment, advertising sales, travel, and retail. When you buy a franchise you will be able to capitalise on the infrastructure that the franchiser has already developed. While in many ways a franchise can be ideal for the work at home type, one disadvantage is that you will have to pay an initial franchise fee to the franchiser. If you have a very limited budget this may not be achievable. However, if you speak with the franchiser, they may be able to help you arrange financing. A franchisee business is statistically more likely to be a success than a business started from scratch.

Business Services

A business services company can be among the easiest things to start – especially if you already know how to provide the service. If you are an accountant, you could start an accountancy firm. If you are a web designer, you could start a web design firm. If you have strong management skills, you could start a management consultancy. The list is endless...

When you opt for this approach, your only major on-going expense is likely to be your wages. You will be able to get a website designed, get a business telephone number, and you’ll be on your way to getting started. In the future your business will be well positioned to grow. You will be able to hire other professionals, and you can take a backseat as they serve your clients.

Online

There is probably more work at home business ideas available in the online sector than almost anywhere else. One of the most common categories for those getting started is retail. You will be able to use the internet to source a product overseas, and then get your own website designed where you can sell your products. You can even use websites like Ebay or Amazon to sell your stuff.

You could also start an online company selling advertising. Ideas include a directory, and a job board. You could start a membership website providing dating services, or business tips. It’s even possible to earn money online without having to sell anything at all! Thanks to advertising networks – like Google AdSense and Commission Junction – you can earn money from simply getting visitors to come to your website, and then get larger companies to sell your advertising inventory on your behalf. They will just take a percentage of the revenue.

CityLocal has a franchise opportunity for work at home entrepreneurs. CityLocal is the UK’s fastest growing local directory. www.citylocal.co.uk & www.citylocal.ie.

The Philippine Flower Industry

The Philippine flower industry has gone a long way since cut flowers were its major produce in the 1970’s and growers were local hobbyists and plant enthusiasts. During the 1980’s the flower industry became more commercialized as it generated huge profits and had lots of potential to earn foreign revenues. The land area of flower farms grew and growers adapted modern techniques and machinery to produce flowers both Filipinos and other people around the world can enjoy.

Over the last two decades, growers and enthusiasts realized that the high return on investment, higher standards of living, rapid population growth, and an influx of tourists led to more fickle clients who only want high-standard cut flowers. For a period of nine years (1991 – 2000), fresh cut flowers and buds earned USD 371,281 annually. There was an increase in the domestic market’s demand for cut flowers and it grew to such an extent that the Philippines had no choice but to import flowers like orchids and chrysanthemums to meet the demand – particularly on Valentine’s Day, All Saint’s Day, school graduation months of March and April, and the Christmas season.

All sorts of flowers from asters to roses are cultivated throughout the Philippines. Chrysanthemums, sampaguita, and gladiolas are grown in open fields or in the mountains north of Luzon. Roses and gerberas are grown in greenhouses because the structure protects them from the heavy rain and the intense summer heat. Jasmine and sampaguita carry heavy religious connotations and are strung into garlands to be offered to statues in churches. Gardens for these flowers are usually located along roadsides or near churches so the grower has an easier time selling them.

Despite innovations and new technology, horticulturists in the Philippine flower industry still face a few constraints and challenges – especially small farmers. For one thing, structures like greenhouses have high costs that they cannot afford. The technology in the country still can’t handle some new varieties of flowers like calla and gerbera. While production technology can be imported, new agricultural chemicals need to be bought along with it. Combined with high import taxes, acquiring these can be very expensive. Even access to credit sources is a problem due to high interest rates on loans.

Although the Philippine flower industry is already picking up, horticulturists still encounter problems meeting the local and worldwide demand for cut flowers. These issues need to be addressed so the country can cut down on import costs, and so the businesses of small growers can thrive as well as the big players in the Philippine flower industry.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flower Delivery Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can find Florists Philippines or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

Sending Flowers during Funerals

Losing a friend or a loved one causes a deep, searing pain that is difficult to endure, but sending over flowers can give comfort to those who are mourning. However, one should always remember that grieving relatives and loved ones may have some conservative views on death. Before sending over any floral arrangements for a funeral, you might want to know a little bit of etiquette when it comes to sympathy arrangements.

Since funerals and wakes are very sad occasions to begin with, color should be incorporated into the flower arrangement to bring life and energy into the room and to achieve the purpose of bringing comfort to grieving family members and loved ones.

The first thing you should remember is to send the arrangement to the funeral home on time; if you cannot send them in time for the wake itself, have the flowers delivered to the home of the deceased’s family. Always include a note, even if the message is as simple as “Our prayers and condolences are with you.” Sending a note makes the gesture more personal and meaningful than just sending a card with the recipient’s name. Finally, if you knew the deceased well, you might want to look for an arrangement that will reflect his or her tastes. If you know that the he or she loved colorful flowers, send an arrangement with pink and yellow roses. If you know that the deceased loved white flowers, choose an arrangement with daisies and white roses. Sending an arrangement with the deceased’s preferences in mind will carry more meaning and stand out among all the other arrangements in the funeral home.

The most traditional of all funeral arrangements is the all white wreath. It is a symbol of peace and tranquility and is your safest bet when sending to any funeral. Many cultures pay careful attention and are sensitive to the meaning of the flowers you send so if you are not sure, go for a plain white flower wreath.

If you don’t mind sending a colorful flower arrangement to a funeral, I recommend that you choose a lively spray of orange roses or yellow roses. These warm colors are known to instantly lift the mood and soothe the spirits of anyone who receives them. Yellow, in particular, is a very cheerful color that represents joy and new beginnings. There’s nothing wrong with choosing an arrangement that isn’t as somber as lilies and white roses. Death, after all, is the only the start of an afterlife, and a flower arrangement with lively, vibrant colors will remind everyone that this is an occasion to celebrate a life well lived.

This article was written by Timothy Spencer for Island Rose - Flowers Philippines. We hope you enjoyed this article and encourage you to visit our website. Through Island Rose, you can send Philippines Flowers or simply browse through our blog for more informative articles.

Work At Home Business: Tips For Improving Your Businesses Productivity

When you run a work at home business, you will often find that there are barriers getting in the way of your productivity. Is making dinner, taking personal phone calls, watching television and browsing the internet getting in the way of your businesses progress? All too often people assume it’s much easier to work from home, rather than getting an office for your business. However, there are certainly obstacles to overcome. Here are some ways that you can beef-up your productivity.

Assign Yourself Workspace

Rather than running your work at home business from your laptop in the kitchen, consider assigning yourself a space or a room where you can work. That way, when you’re in that space, you’ll know the difference between recreational and work time. This will also allow your family and flatmates to know the difference between when you’re working and when you’re free to talk. Many great companies started inside lofts, cellars and garages – maybe that was because the founders needed their space.

Set Yourself A Schedule

It can be easy to please yourself – wake up when you like, work as long as you like, take breaks when you want. That’s why you have to introduce discipline to ensure your work at home business achieves the results that it’s capable of. If you want to work 40 hours a week, and you find you’re not managing to, then you should assign yourself set working hours.

Rather than eating lunch when you feel like it, making yourself a coffee when you please, why not set yourself up with break-times too? This will certainly improve your productivity when you work from home.

On the rare occasion where you have to, you can deviate from this schedule. But, when you do, make sure you catch up immediately. As well as making the schedule for yourself, you’re also doing it for your family and friends. Make sure they know about the schedule and respect it. Explain to them that you have the schedule to make sure your business is productive, and that they shouldn’t ask you to do things during this time.

Outsource What You Can

If you are paying yourself a wage of $40 an hour and you have too much to do, why not consider outsourcing tasks? If you are doing bookkeeping work, and you can hire a bookkeeper for $20 an hour, then it would make sense to outsource this activity. You should start with the tasks that are the easiest to outsource, and where labour will be the cheapest.

When you are no longer spending as much time doing less important tasks, you will be able to dedicate more time to the thing that matters the most – running your work at home business. This will also help you improve your delegation skills; this is important should you wish to move out of a home office environment in the future, and grow your business. Through following these tips you should be able to overcome your productivity issues, and take your business to the next level.

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