(ARA) - Starting your own business takes passion, patience, perseverance and access to resources. Knowing how to achieve and exceed your goals requires the right advice and support.
According to a recent survey conducted by CIT, a leading global commercial finance company and the Economist Intelligence Unit, middle market business executives stated that attributes like “strong customer relationships” and “having a financial institution who deeply understand their business or industry” are more important to their success than just the strong balance sheet.
“We are challenging the traditional ways lending institutions approach customers,” says Chris Reilly, president of CIT Small Business Lending Corporation (SBL), a unit of CIT. “Our ingenuity and depth of experience has made us the largest independent commercial finance company in the world. We understand that strong relationships are at the core of business.”
Reilly has a few tips for entrepreneurs who are running or planning to start a business:
* Craft a solid business plan. It’s your roadmap and the key to helping your business succeed. If you don’t have a business plan, seek advice from reputable small business advisors who know your business and can help you create and update one along the way.
* Build a good relationship with your bank manager and creditors. Ask for their help and advice in building your business and show a genuine interest in solving problems.
* Find a lender who offers more than just a loan. As your business grows you’ll benefit from the solid advice and guidance that comes from a lender that understands the needs of businesses as they grow from start-ups to success stories. Select a lender that can help you build relationships that will build on your successes.
* Create a community of encouraging people. Develop a network of entrepreneurs that you see regularly with whom you can exchange ideas. The relationships you build with these individuals, organizations or trade groups will provide you with an outlet to problem solve, share successes and learn from other entrepreneurs.
* Act with determination. If you have a good idea, be determined to stick with it through the start-up years and don’t be disheartened by the small setbacks that all growing businesses invariably face.
For more information about starting a business, small business lending and advice to business owners, visit http://corporate-finance.cit.com and select Small Business Lending.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
ARA) – Dr. Brad Leuwerke, a 2006 veterinary school graduate, had the best possible experience when he graduated from Iowa State University. Employers were competing to hire him.
“At the time I was looking for a position, there were six to seven practices that were actively looking to hire, of which there were three offers I was seriously considering,” he explains.
Dr. Leuwerke’s experiences aren’t odd. There is a shortage of food safety veterinarians (who care for animals bred for food) and public health veterinarians. This shortage is driving the creation of new state and federal programs that pay tuition and offer large cash incentives to young veterinarians interested in working in rural areas or in public health jobs.
Existing veterinarians in those fields are beginning to feel the strain, complaining they work long hours to cover the work loads. At the turn of the 20th century, virtually every veterinarian in the United States was a food supply veterinarian, but today there are just 8,857, making up just 17 percent of the veterinary workforce. According to a recent study, the shortage of public health and food supply veterinarians is expected to get worse by 4 to 5 percent every year.
“It’s been a trend that we’ve been seeing for years now. Particularly swine and dairy practice are having troubling attracting new graduates,” says Dr. George Saperstein, chairman of Department of Environmental and Population Health at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. “It’s a crisis for food supply veterinarians. Large animal practices are realizing that they need to make the profession more attractive to new graduates.”
Dr. John P. Sanders, Jr., president of the American Association of Public Health Veterinarians says that there is also a growing shortage of public health veterinarians. The Association of American Veterinary Colleges estimates that shortage at 1,500 public health veterinarians today and a projected shortage of 15,000 veterinarians over the next 20 years.
The shortage is bad news, overall, but good news for veterinary students. Food animal production generates $124 billion annually to the U.S. economy, which is driving politicians to take notice. Dr. Arlyn Scherbenske, of the Steele Veterinary Clinic in North Dakota, who is currently trying to hire two veterinarians, says that North Dakota recently approved a state program that will offer new graduates $80,000 in incentives, over thee years, to work in areas of need, and a similar program is awaiting funding at the federal level. North Dakota also funds tuition for veterinary school students, in state and out of state, who are interested in areas in need.
Dr. Candace Jacobs, vice president of quality assurance and environmental affairs for H-E-B stores in Texas and Mexico, says that the shortages in rural practice and public health veterinary medicine also illustrate how important it is that the National Veterinary Medical Services Act, passed in 2003 but not fully funded, be funded in full. Once the program is operational, it will repay the educational loans of veterinarians who agree to practice in rural America and in public health jobs.
“I think the loan forgiveness programs are a great idea,” Dr. Jacobs says. “Once students get introduced to how interesting veterinary careers can be, they’ll be hooked.”
Leuwerke, who ultimately accepted an offer from the Swine Veterinary Center in St. Peter, Minn., agrees, explaining he’s pleased with his decision to become a food safety veterinarian. “I could see doing this work for a long time,” he said. “I’m enjoying myself.”
Of the employers competing to hire him in 2006, Dr. Leuwerke estimates that only three have filled the openings and four are still looking for employees … and these jobs will remain open at least a year, as the class of 2008 has already largely selected the positions they will take at graduation.
For more information careers in veterinary medicine, including a half-hour DVD on veterinary careers, please visit www.avma.org.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Cybercriminals prey on online shoppers over the holidays. Here are the most common scams and how you can avoid them
Ah, the holidays—that most wonderful time of year when the Web is aflutter with e-mailed season’s greetings, online shopping offers…and cyber criminals. The scams run the gamut, from fraudulent e-mails purporting to be alerts about online transactions to scam gift offers. “There is always an effort by the criminal underground to separate victims from their money this time of year,” says Paul Ferguson, an advanced threat researcher with Trend Micro, a security software provider.
Cybercriminals know it’s easier to get people to fall for scams related to online shopping when they have shopping on the brain. It also doesn’t hurt that the legitimate act of online shopping often involves visits to comparison-shopping sites and strange discount sites. So it’s little surprise that some of those destinations turn out to be fake. “People are particularly vulnerable this time of year because they are looking for bargains,” says Bill Loesch, chief technical officer and co-founder of GuardID, the maker of a device, similar to a USB memory stick, that stores account information and verifies the identity of financial sites.
The rising popularity of online shopping makes for a target-rich environment. Consumers have spent about $25 billion online since Nov. 1, according to a Dec. 20 comScore (SCOR) study. That’s a 19% increase from last year. Security firms expect a similar increase in the amount of online fraud, bringing the total amount lost online to $3.6 billion this year, according to a November survey by CyberSource (CYBS), an electronic payment and risk management firm.
So what can consumers do to protect themselves from unwittingly buying someone else’s holiday gifts this season? For starters, they can keep an eye out for the following common holiday scams:
You’ve probably heard the one about the Nigerian bank manager who needs your “confidential” help opening a U.S. account to transfer millions in oil-related profits. But those “dear friend” e-mails are fairly primitive compared with some of the devious phishing techniques criminals have come up with to trick consumers into handing over account information.
In fact, phishing attacks have become more successful in recent years. According to a survey by research firm Gartner, released Dec. 17, more than 3.6 million adults lost money as a result of phishing in the 12 months ending in August, 2007. That’s up from 2.3 million people in 2006.
One reason for the increase is the ingenuity of the scams themselves, which can look identical to legitimate notices from financial institutions such as Citibank (C) and PayPal, the leading online payment service from eBay (EBAY). Many of these e-mails open with warnings of imminent account cancellations or detection of fraudulent activity, which can make consumers more likely to click a link in hopes of rectifying the problem.
But the link typically directs to a fraudulent copycat site or downloads malware—software that scoops up account and other information—onto the computer, says Shane Keats, a research analyst with McAfee (MFE), a security software provider. “At some point this season you will get an e-mail saying that your auction account has been hacked and you must respond now,” says Keats. “Don’t panic.… It is not real. The auction sites and the banks don’t send that information by e-mail.”
For instance, phishing e-mails purporting to be from PayPal often begin with “Dear PayPal user” or “Dear PayPal member.” On its Web site, PayPal says it uses first and last names of customers when sending them e-mails; anything without the full name is a scam. PayPal also has an e-mail address, spoof@paypal.com, where users can report notices they suspect are fraudulent.
Read More:BusinessWeek.com
(ARA) - Employers that post a job opening are not just looking for a new person to join their organization today; they are looking for someone who will be there tomorrow. While some employers have the resources to recruit candidates on their own, the American Staffing Association estimates that 80 percent of staffing clients feel staffing firms offer a good way to find people who can become permanent employees.
While there are many tools candidates use to find a job — recruiting Web sites, traditional ads, or headhunters — one of the best may be a temporary position. “You become your resume in a temporary position by using your skills, positive attitude, and confidence to showcase your potential,” says Robert Lyons, vice president for KellyDirect, the full-time placement service line of global human resources solutions provider Kelly Services. “Within one year we helped nearly 50,000 people find full-time jobs with our customers.”
Anne Sennet-Cassity is just one example: “My experience with Kelly Services was great training ground for a career and gave me a lot of good exposure to my field,” she says. Sennet-Cassity was originally hired as a secretary and through Kelly she was offered a full-time job with an aerospace battery company, which also paid for her college expenses through her graduation with a bachelor’s degree in Management/Marketing.
Later, when the company was acquired by a French corporation, Sennet-Cassity was reassigned to work on proposals and coordination of contracts. Impressed by her performance, the company moved her to sales at their headquarters in France. She jumped at the opportunity to live in France and was there four years. Quickly rising through the ranks, Sennet-Cassity became the head of sales for a European division and returned to the United States as the director of the U.S. Sales Division, where she is today.
Her success is an example of how your education, training and experience are a preview of an employee’s potential. But, career advancement would not have been in her future unless she continued to develop existing skills, gained new skills and was proactive.
Many organizations offer career planning resources to assess an employee’s current skills and career interests, and to develop a career action plan. Still for some employees, how to advance in their career remains a mystery. Even though they have their degree, several years of experience, and feel they are ready for the next challenge, their employer may think otherwise. So, what could be the cause?
“When an employee is hired, they put their ‘best foot forward’ to get the job. They dress well, have a positive attitude, and are confident. But, as time goes on they may become too comfortable and lose the edge that got them hired in the first place,” notes Lyons.
To maximize your effectiveness and enhance the likelihood of getting promoted, Lyons offers these tips to help put your career advancement plan in motion:
Your demeanor speaks for you — What type of facial expressions do you exhibit? Do you smile and emanate confidence, or are you timid and withdrawn? Without a doubt, the person who is smiling and is self-assured has the advantage of getting noticed.
Communicate well — Keeping direct eye contact when someone is talking shows you are giving them your full attention, are not distracted and have the ability to listen. Also developing superior presentation, influencing, and negotiating skills will get you noticed.
Impressions do count — Personal appearance is extremely important to career advancement. Even in an era of business casual, an employee should always dress to match their organization’s culture and look appropriate for the business environment. When it comes to casual office attire, it is better to “dress up” rather than “dress down.”
Build relationships — A successful organization requires employees who can work together as a team and also bring their own special talents to a project. Demonstrating the ability to work well with all levels of employees within the organization will help build relationships. In turn, your maturity and sound judgment will let them know you are ready to move to the next level.
For Anne Sennet-Cassity, Kelly Services turned out to be a great way to get a job. “We provided the first step and were happy to help her along the way, but she did the rest to climb the ladder,” says Lyons.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
A Smart Real Estate Investor’s Secrets Revealed
(ARA) – The cost of living is higher than ever, there’s weakness in the job market, stocks are in a free-fall and the housing market is in a slump. Sounds like a bad time to be a real estate investor, or is it?
According to G. William Barnett II, author of “Are You Dumb Enough to Be Rich?” from AMACOM Books, exactly the opposite is true. “These are the times smart real estate investors live for. There’s more money to be made in chaos than at any other time, and no other investment strategy has created more millionaires than real estate,” he says.
In the just released second edition of his book, Barnett, who has more than a decade of experience in real estate investing, has added chapters that lay out his strategies for being successful in the current marketplace. The key, he says, is knowing how to decipher not only which markets to invest in, but which neighborhoods hold the key to wealth.
“One of the greatest frustrations I had early in my career was reading about places where great things were happening, but not having the confidence to take advantage of them,” says Barnett, who still regrets not investing in Hawaii back in the late 1990s when the crash of the Japanese stock market sent housing prices into a free fall. “Back then, I told my wife we have to invest in Hawaii. She said, ‘No, we don’t know anything about that market.’ If I had known then what I know now, boy would I be better off.”
Barnett has spent the past decade finessing an investment strategy he calls “Hot Mapping,” which is outlined in the new edition. “Basically it’s a business overlay that you can apply to any market in the U.S. to identify the areas in that market you should be investing in,” he explains.
Here’s a brief synopsis of how it works. Step one is to establish a market’s median price which you can do with the help of resources on the Internet. Next you’ll want to purchase two maps. One electronic, the other a 6-by-6-foot map that covers the town or county you want to invest in. Step three will be to break down the market from a pricing standpoint using color coding.
“Once you finish making your map, pick up the classifieds and start adding pins representing each of the homes for sale. This technique gets you to the point where you can just pick up the phone, call an agent and tell them exactly which subdivision you want to look at and how much you’re willing to pay. You’re in essence equipping the agent to do a great job for you,” says Barnett.
In “Are You Dumb Enough to Be Rich?,” Barnett offers other strategies for making a fortune in real estate, including instructions on how to find and take ownership of troubled properties before they go into foreclosure and how to move faster than your competition when it comes to getting your hands on lists of already foreclosed properties the banks and mortgage companies want to sell.
As for the housing markets Barnett likes best right now, he says number one is Las Vegas, which currently has $10 billion worth of commercial construction going on and will soon have a demand for thousands of new employees. He also likes San Diego, which due to this summer’s fires doesn’t have enough housing to meet its citizens’ needs; and Central Florida which thanks to the Disney empire will always have room for growth.
“Real estate is cyclical. Before you know it, the economy will recover and banks and mortgage companies will once again become more creative in their lending practices. Then there will be another string of foreclosures, and smart investors like you will be lined up to help clean up the mess,” says Barnett.
The second edition of “Are You Dumb Enough to Be Rich?” is available for purchase at bookstores nationwide or visit www.amacombooks.org for more information.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
ARA) - With life expectancy figures continuing to climb, managing eye disease is essential for people to maintain healthy, happy and productive lives. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over age 50. The Centers for Disease Control and prevention estimate that 1.8 million people have the disease and another 7.3 million are at risk for vision loss from AMD.
AMD occurs when the central area of the retina responsible for clear vision, the macula, is damaged. This results in a loss of central vision in the eye, which is needed for reading and close work. Color vision and distance vision are also affected. There are two types of macular degeneration: “dry” or atrophic, and “wet” or exudative.
The exact cause of macular degeneration is unknown but it may be related to aging, hereditary factors, smoking and exposure to high levels of ultraviolet radiation and blue light, both found in sunlight. Your lifestyle can play a role in reducing your risk of developing AMD and other eye diseases. The AOA recommends that individuals:
* Eat a low-fat balanced diet rich in green, leafy vegetables, or ask their optometrist about dietary supplements;
* Wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of ultraviolet radiation;
* Keep blood pressure under control;
* Avoid smoking.
People should also be alert for the symptoms of the wet form of macular degeneration and seek professional help immediately if they notice:
* A sudden loss of the ability to see clearly;
* A gradual change in color vision;
* Distorted vision, such as wavy lines that should be straight;
* A dark or empty area appearing in the center of vision.
The key to treatment and management of AMD is early detection; see your optometrist regularly to protect your vision. For more information, visit the association’s Web site at www.aoa.org
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) - Cherries have pleased the palates of food lovers for centuries. Their ruby-red color and tangy taste won cherries a place on the tables of Roman conquerors, Greek citizens and Chinese noblemen. Ongoing research suggests the cherry not only offers great taste, but huge health benefits.
From old wives tales and folklore, this tiny red fruit has been credited with an array of natural health benefits, including helping people get a good night’s sleep to keeping joints healthy and functioning well However, with 21st century research technology we now know those folklores and tales are more than mere legend.
As more people are searching for natural remedies, the tart cherry is fast becoming a favorite of those who want to enjoy an active lifestyle. So what makes cherries so special and why are we only starting to hear about them now?
Finding Reliable Tart Cherry Research
Ongoing research from several leading universities and global organizations offer supporting scientific evidence regarding the amazing benefits of the tart cherry. According to research conducted at the University of Vermont, a tart cherry juice blend helped soothe muscle soreness due to physical exercise. In addition, research results from Michigan State University (MSU) have shed light on the ability of the tart cherry to help maintain healthy joint function.
The “Dean of Melatonin,” Dr. Russel Reiter, professor of neuroendocrinlogy at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, has conducted research on the tart cherry and melatonin. Based upon these research results, tart cherries are found to be a natural source of melatonin. Since melatonin helps regulate the body’s natural clock, tart cherries may also help many get a more restful sleep.
Your Daily Dose of Tart Cherry
Eating fresh tart cherries daily is an ideal way to get the health benefits of this fruit. Research from MSU suggests that by eating just 20 cherries a day a person could realize the health benefits provided by the tart cherry.
However, during the cold winter months finding fresh cherries may be extremely difficult. Until recently, one remedy for those looking to enjoy the antioxidant-rich benefits of cherries during the winter months was to wait until the summer harvest.
Fruit Advantage has solved this seasonal cherry dilemma. The company offers tart cherries in a convenient tart cherry capsule. These tart cherry capsules are convenient, kosher, vegan-friendly and gluten-free. Due to the proprietary manufacturing process, 100 percent of the original fresh cherry phytochemicals are able to be maintained. In fact, each daily serving delivers the specific antioxidant benefit of over 5 glasses of cherry juice without the sugar. Fruit Advantage Joint Formula made from tart cherries is available directly from the Fruit Advantage Web site at www.fruitadvantage.com or by calling (877) 746-7477.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
ARA) – When warnings about trans fats emerged, you worked hard to eliminate them from your family’s diet. You were quick to clean out the kids’ toy box when lead contamination fears prompted recalls of foreign-made toys in 2007. Keeping on top of health news can help you and your family lead healthier, happier lives.
“Staying abreast of health news becomes more critical every year,” says Dr. Holly G. Atkinson, medical editor-in-chief of EverydayHealth.com, the award-winning Web site that helps people manage their health online daily. “Knowledge is power and being aware of the latest developments in medicine can help you make informed decisions about your own health care.”
So what health developments on the horizon for 2008 are like to have the most impact on you and your family? Dr. Atkinson advises we keep our eyes on the following five developments:
1. Personalized Medicine through Genetic Testing
Genetic testing is promising to make it possible to identify many ailments you may be predisposed to such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, hypertension, high cholesterol and colon, breast or skin cancers. Testing to see if you carry the genes that have been linked to these diseases could allow for early diagnosis, treatment, and preventative measures tailored to your specific genetic makeup and lifestyle.
“For example, it’s estimated that 600,000 Americans have ‘familial hypercholesterolemia,’ a disease that causes high cholesterol levels, which in turn contributes to the risk of heart attack,” Dr. Atkinson says. “Genetic testing can tell you if you are one of those 600,000 so your doctor can help you create a preventative plan for avoiding cholesterol-linked heart disease.”
What you can do: A new genetic test allows doctors to definitively identify people whose genes place them at risk of high cholesterol, putting them at risk for heart disease. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, heart disease before age 45 in men and 55 in women, tendon xanthomas (a waxy-looking build up on tendons in the hands or feet) or known familial hypercholesterolemia, consider getting tested.
2. Controlling Obesity at an Earlier Age
Obesity and corresponding diseases such as diabetes, liver and kidney problems, orthopedic injury and ultimately heart disease continue to rise among children, teens and young adults. “For the first time in recorded medical history, we are at risk of life expectancy actually going down,” Dr. Atkinson says. “Obesity is a monumental threat to health.”
Studies show that as much as a third of all American children and teens are overweight or obese, and yet many parents (around 40 percent by a recent study) don’t realize it. Medical professionals are beginning to see more children suffering from obesity-related diseases once thought to affect only adults.
What you can do: First, recognize if your child is overweight. If your child has a weight problem, get professional help immediately – for the entire family. Children learn health habits at home; lead by example by taking steps to control your own weight and heart health. Create a healthful home environment conducive to good eating and exercise habits: for example, throw out the junk food, cut up vegetables and put them out before dinner, ban eating while watching TV, and take an evening family walk. Also, support community initiatives to fund healthier lunches and more exercise at school.
3. Vitamins and Anti-oxidants May Not Be So Good For You After All
Recent studies have shown that anti-oxidants and some vitamins may have less of a positive health impact than previously thought. In fact, some data indicates such supplements may actually boost your risk of some types of cancer, including prostate cancer, increase mortality rates, or fail to have any positive impact on cardiovascular health.
What you can do: “Patients should be aware that many of the benefits claimed by manufacturers of these supplements have not been substantiated by research,” Dr. Atkinson says. “For example, studies do not show a benefit from vitamin C, vitamin E, or beta carotene for prevention of cardiovascular events. Do not substitute these supplements for medically proven courses of disease treatment or prevention, including practicing healthful lifestyle habits.”
4. DNA Paternity Tests Hit Drugstores
For years, DNA testing was hard to come by. Now, at least one company is selling a paternity test direct to consumers through drugstores. This follows a growing trend of companies marketing genetic testing for different health risks, like breast cancer, directly to consumers. But Dr. Atkinson warns consumers to be cautious.
What you can do: “If you’re interested in the information, consider first the consequences of having that knowledge, and how the information may help or harm in any given situation,” she says. “Learn about the test, what it can show, and consider the truth and consequences.”
5. Environmental Health Risks
“The health of the environment directly impacts our own health,” Dr. Atkinson says. “Environmentally responsible lifestyles not only save the planet, they can save us as individuals as well.”
Millions of Americans are turning to healthful habits that also benefit the environment, such as eating organically grown produce, walking or biking to work or school, avoiding carcinogens, reducing their contributions to greenhouse gasses, and recycling waste, including leftover medications. These practices can improve your overall health while also reducing your negative impact on the environment.
What you can do: Make lifestyle changes that can benefit the environment, such as committing to reduce your family’s output of carbon dioxide – a harmful greenhouse gas – by 3,000 pounds in 2008. Take simple steps – from washing clothes in cold water rather than hot to keeping your tires properly inflated – that are sure to will help.
For more information on these and many other current health issues, visit www.EveryDayHealth.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
EDITOR’S NOTE:
Dr. Holly G. Atkinson, medical editor-in-chief of EveryDayHealth.com, has more than 20 years experience in the field of medical information and education. A former editor-in-chief of “Health News,” an assistant professor of medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical School, and adjunct professor of public health at Cornell University, she pens a weekly column – “Notes from Dr. Holly” – for EverydayHealth.com, published by Waterfront Media
RALEIGH, N.C., and ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) announces leadership changes affecting its utilities in the Carolinas and Florida.
* Jeff Corbett, 48, currently based in St. Petersburg as senior vice president of Energy Delivery for Progress Energy Florida, will return to the Carolinas in that same role, reporting to Lloyd Yates, president and CEO of Progress Energy Carolinas.
* Michael Lewis, 45, currently vice president of Distribution for Progress Energy Florida, has been promoted to senior vice president of Energy Delivery for PEF, replacing Corbett. He will report to Jeff Lyash, president and CEO of PEF. He will be based in St. Petersburg.
The changes take effect Jan. 2.
Corbett has worked for the company since 1999 after nearly two decades at Virginia Power. Before assuming his current position in May 2006, he served as vice president of Distribution for PEC, and as vice president of PEC’s Eastern Region in Wilmington, N.C. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
“Jeff brings a wealth of experience in operations and customer service from his prior roles in the Carolinas,” Yates said. “And his Florida experience has broadened his knowledge in the area of energy efficiency and demand-side management, which is a critical part of our balanced solution for meeting energy needs in the Carolinas. His expertise and leadership will help enhance our already outstanding performance.”
Lewis has worked for the company for 22 years. Before assuming his current position in 2004, he served as vice president of the Coastal Region in Florida. He has been in management roles of increasing responsibility since 1989 in Ocala, Crystal River and Pasco and Pinellas counties. Lewis earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in business administration from Nova University.
“We are fortunate to have Michael’s outstanding leadership, talent and experience to help build on our track record of performance in Florida,” Lyash said. “As we continue to make critical investments in our utilities, and as our customers’ expectations increase every year, we must maintain our focus on strong operational performance every day. These changes will help ensure that we are well-positioned to do so.”
Read More:CarolinaNewsWire
This is a fabulously profitable business that’s still in it’s infancy. And for sure, if you want a business that takes no special training, expensive office set-up or large investment -yet is capable of showing almost immediate profits - this is it!
Now is the ideal time to get started with your own Video Taping Service. Purchasing and learning how to operate, as well as maintain the necessary equipment is easy. The technological improvements built into the equipment, and the operating pro-
cedures have been so simplified that almost anyone with the ability to read, can study a video instruction manual for a couple of hours and immediately produce professional quality, highly marketable video tapes. Without a doubt, video tape technology has replaced Super 8 home movies as the most-desired memory-saving system.
One- and two-person video taping services around the country are reporting gross earnings of $50,000 to $100,000 per year. One operation we looked into, reported an in come figure of $800,000 during the preceding 12-month period. They were accepting taping jobs from all quarters and keeping 4-hired teams busy.
Marketing imagination, organization, and attention to detail are the keys to success in operating this business. Ideas and requests for new things or events to tape and pre serve for later playback/viewing, are coming in faster than one can list. Then, there are so many things to remember and minor details to take care of, that the only way to operate successfully is with a series of checklists… for the person selling the service as well as the man or woman on the recording camera.
But don’t let mentioning of details to remember, scare you off. On the contrary, you’ll find video equipment easy and inexpensive to practice on, especially when compared to attaining a comparable degree of expertise with film. You can use the same tape over and over again, and this is definitely a business where the phrase “practice leads to perfection,” applies without qualifications or reservations.
To start a video taping service, you’ll need a video “porta-pack” recorder, and at least a half dozen tapes or sd mmc cards Check around in your area. Start by “reading up” on all the available equipment used for video taping. A trip to your public library and a few hours browsing through the periodicals on video equipment should give you added interest and a basic indoctrination. Next, check out the suppliers listed in the Garner NC City Guide online directory. A few phone calls to those places listed, plus a few in-personal visits, should supply you with enough catalogs and “idea material” to keep you plenty busy for a week or more. These elementary learning steps are necessary as the foundation of your
business.
You should be able to buy a good quality video Cam recorder for about $350, with blank tapes for $20 or less and SD Cards from $15 to $80. When you buy, always dicker with the dealer - explaining to him that you’re in the process of establishing a video taping service, and
if he will include a supply of tapes with the recorder, or at least give you an especially good price on them, you’ll probably buy all your tapes from him. It may not be your regular way of buying things, but when you’re starting a business, every dollar counts, so always shop around for the best prices.
Once you have your video recorder, take it home and start practicing with it. Think of yourself as being on a job for a homeowner or an insurance company, taking a photographic inventory of the house and/or the occupant’s possessions. Practice by
making a tape record of your own household furnishings. Make a tape, then play it back and critique your work. Then do it again, and again, until you have a tape you can use in sales presentations to homeowners and insurance companies. Video tape recordings of this kind are becoming extremely popular with homeowners and insurance companies alike.
Then, look through your weekend newspaper and make a note of the girls announcing wedding dates. Open your telephone directory and call these girls on the phone. Ask them if they’d mind if you came to their wedding and made a video tape of it, without any obligation to them of course.
So you go to the wedding, introduce yourself and practice making a video tape of the wedding ceremony. Take the tape home and critique it. Keep this up until you have a tape you’re reasonably proud of, and then call the bride. Ask to come over and let her see the tape. Explain to her that you’re just getting started in the business, and you simply want her comments and suggestions. Chances are, when she sees the tape, she’ll want to
buy it.
While you’re in this learning phase of your new business, visit an apartment building and arrange with the manager to make a video tape of her showing the apartment to you as a potential renter. Contact a couple of property management and real estate firms, and do the same thing with condominiums and houses for sale.
You might want to listen in on the police radio frequency, and make tapes of auto accidents, particularly those involving injuries. Another idea might be the taping of golfers practicing at the local driving ranges. Other ideas include any kind of sports practice session, birthday parties, special anniversaries, baptisms, bar mitzvah’s, publicity stories, sales presentations, and “fireside chats” by company presidents or general managers.
These are just a few idea suggestions you might want to pursue. You may find a certain kind of video taping assignment especially enjoyable and want to specialize in that area. Or you may want to leave the door open for any kind of assignment and handle each as the opportunity presents itself.
Whatever you decide, there are a few “sure success” points to keep in mind as you begin to sell your services. Remember, the idea of having a video Cam corder in one’s home, is gaining in popularity every day. There are already some 8-million video Cam recorders in American Homes, with an estimated 100,000 being sold to new customers every month. Further estimates indicate that by 2008, at ]east one half of all U.S. households will own either a videocassette recorder, Digital Cam Recorder, DVD or a videodisc player. All of this means your market is growing and is expected to continue growing through the end of this decade.
Virtually everyone would like to see himself as a star in a home movie. Thus, when you show him a video tape of himself in the starring role, he’ll either buy the tape on the spot or want you to make a similar tape for him. Regardless of false modesty, everyone likes to show pictures of himself, and explain to his friends the different highlights of his or her life. With this understanding about your prospect in mind when you make a sales presentation, your closing rate should be quite close to 100 percent.
The best way to sell your services is to run a regular ad in your area newspapers. Such an ad might be similar to this one:
VIDEO TAPING SERVICES…
Whatever your idea or assignment, we can handle it for you! No job too large or too small! We’re experts at taping weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties and other special occasions. Commercial assignments also welcomed. Your satisfaction is guaranteed, so give us a call - 123-4567, right now!
When you receive calls in response to this ad, your objective will be two-fold: Find out what kind of taping job they have in mind, and set up an appointment to show them an example of the kinds of tapes you can produce for them. Show them an example of your work. Once you’ve met with them, and sown them a demonstration tape, you should have the sale in your pocket.
Never meet with a prospect in a selling situation without some sort of demonstration tape to show him. Try to match the tape you show them, as closely to their wants and needs as possible. Wedding tapes you have made for prospective wedding clients, and shots of golf practice or instruction to golfing prospects.
Besides an ad in the newspapers, online directories, online classifieds ads and the yellow pages of your telephone directory, make copies of the ad and get it up on the bulletin boards in your market area. Send news and publicity releases to all the media in your area, definitely whenever you’ve got an unusual or special kind of assignment.
Have some impressive business cards printed, and hand them out to whomever, and as often as you can. The slogan on your business card might read: Have Video Cam Recorder - Available for ANY kind of assignment - You name it and I’ll tape it…
Radio and/or television advertising will probably be more expensive than the resulting job assignments will sustain, so be very cautious when considering this type of advertising. However, it will very definitely be advantageous for you to pursue guest in
ter views on just about any kind of broadcast talk show. Talk show appearances and free write-ups about your business in your local newspapers are promotional angles to reach for at every opportunity. Always be on the lookout for promotional ideas and gimmicks that will result in area-wide publicity for your services.
The bottom line is simply this: Don’t be adverse to creating a story or set of circumstances if it results in a talk show appearance or newspaper write-up for you.
How much should you charge for your services? Basically, the going rate in most large metropolitan areas is about $5O per hour you spend on the assignment. Thus, you’re going to have to learn to estimate pretty accurately just how long each job is going to take you to produce a quality recording. It’s always a good idea to check out what other video taping services in your area, or in a comparably sized city in your neighboring states are charging. Newsletters and trade publications serving businesses of this type are available, however, we don’t know of any that have attained national prominence as of the date of this report. Check with your equipment supplier on any that he might know of…
Success with a business of this kind does not require an office set-up or any special education or training. You can start it on a part-time basis from your home, and parlay it into a full time, very high profit profession. The prestige this business will afford you is similar to that of a doctor.
Starting with a young couple’s wedding, if you follow up on each sale properly, you’ll probably end up making tapes for the birthdays of each of their children, school graduations, anniversaries, more birthdays, family histories, last wills & testaments, and into a whole new cycle with each generation.
You will need imagination, an affinity for people and selling moxie. Imagination is important because in many instances, you’ll have to suggest an idea for your taping services. Although just about everybody would like to have a taped record of some event or part of their life to pass along to future generations of their family, most will not be able to decide what to tape until you suggest something to them. You’ll also find that almost no one is aware of even half your capabilities until you make suggestions.
Taking pictures of people requires an ability to get along well with people - get them to relax, and immediately feel comfortable in your presence. You’ve got to be persuasive while exercising a great deal of tact and diplomacy. Make friends easily and quickly. Be aware of, and understanding of wants, desires and ambitions.
Actually, selling and getting along with people, are almost synonymous. Life is an on-going program of selling yourself to achieve your own wants and ambitions. Read a few good books on the art of selling, such as: HOW TO SELL YOURSELF by Steve Girard; and HOW TO SELL ANYTHING TO ANYBODY by Tom Hopkins. Remember, selling is really just a matter or recognizing someone’s needs and then satisfying those needs with a product or service.
Your customers will automatically accept it as fact, that you have the professional knowledge and equipment to fulfill their needs. All you have to do is reassure them, listen to their reasons for these needs, and in closing the sale, become a good friend to them.
And that’s it - the plan that can enable you to get started with your own Video Taping Service. By following our suggestions, and with a bit of energy as well as persistence, you should be able to begin with very little start-up investment and quickly
begin to realize the fruits of your own profitable business.
If you have any questions, or run into special problems, please feel free to call me or drop me a line. Having laid it all out for you, the rest is up to you - Your future is in your own hands…this ad, your objective will be two-fold:
Read More helpful Articles: City5nc.com
Garner NC Business Directory And Free Local Classifieds Ads
Add your link:City5nc.com/links
