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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