posted by Savanah on Jul 27
In every aspect of life there is one skill that stands out above the rest as one of the best to acquire and practice: communication. From personal relationships to employment, being able to communicate effectively is an invaluable skill that can save you a lot of trouble down the road.
Many people often wonder how to win friends and influence people . While having a remarkable personality is plus, being able a strong communicator is even more important.
Strong communication skills are more than just being able to express yourself well, both verbally and in writing. It is important to be able to share your ideas in a way that others can understand, but communication works two ways. Good communication is also being able to listen to the ideas and thoughts of others and responding in a thoughtful way. Don’t just brush them off or talk over them, but consider their ideas and respond to them before you continue with what you wanted to say.
Communication is an important part of business and customer service training . Without it businesses would struggle to get jobs done and productivity would cease to exist.
Taking the time to develop and maintain good communication skills can go a long way toward improving your work and social life.
posted by Savanah on Jul 22
Trade shows are popular events that attract numerous people from a variety of demographic backgrounds . And they are a great place to introduce your business product or service to new populations of customers that otherwise may have never given it a thought. While the bulk of your customer base will be composed of your major market target demographic, peripherally based customers are another main population and are great at drawing in additional business. The point here is that it is always a great idea to participate in trade shows, though you also need to have a booth that will attract attention.
Pop up displays for trade shows are one of the most successful and guaranteed ways of attracting attention to your booth. They also present a very impressive and professional image for your company, which is essential to maintaining the attention once you receive it. The quality of digital imagery on them is more clear and color correct now than ever before and it is possible to do almost anything with this style of display. In addition, they are extremely portable and are easy to move from businesses to venues and anywhere else. Simply fold or collapse them, put them in your vehicle and go. And there’s no taping or pin up needs, you simply set them up and watch them immediately begin to attract people.
posted by Savanah on Feb 23
As in any great business, in a business that is run well, there are key elements which are necessary. Many companies do okay, but there is more to being a great property management company than performing an okay job. What it takes begins quite simply, with honesty. There are many options for online advertising today, be it for goods or for services. This is one area where honesty is particularly valuable because when doing online business, the customer or client is not face to face with the property manager . If a website is not truthful, it will come out in the end so what is the point? This leads to the next element, one that is necessary to attain in order for a business to grow and to thrive and one in which is a direct result of honesty and truthfulness in business transactions . That is integrity. Integrity is the way in which transactions and relations are handled, a way that is open, honesty and direct. This is a viewpoint of others that must be earned. In order for a business to be referred to as operating with integrity, they must themselves, conduct operations in such a manner. Transparent operating procedures mean that everything is above board. There are no secret or hidden agendas. There is actually truth in a company’s advertising and in their services. People who manage the rental properties of others have a responsibility to both the owners and the tenants. They have two different kinds of people to take care of. They will need to make promises to both parties and they will need to keep those promises. Whether it is by collecting the rent on time or making the bank deposits, or whether it is fixing leaking plumbing, the only way the manager will be successful is to honor those promises each and every time one is made. People say that it is hard to do business in the world today. But it has always been simple to do good business. Good and honest business filled with integrity just comes from doing what is right.
posted by Savanah on Jan 19
The garage had to be sloughed of its guts, and my friend chose me to do it. Her name is Geraldine. Her old job was for a big auto industry. She never learned how to change oil in her years there but it was not necessary for her. She worked doing leadership training for managers and directors. It did provide her with source information on the trucks that were the greatest buys. Geraldine loved to ride in trucks because it was what her father drove her in every time the two of them went for ice cream after her softball team won a game.
There were all kinds of books in her garage. Books about team building program , books about magic tricks, books about Mexican papercutting. She actually had a few paper lamps she had made from directions in the books still hanging in her garage. They were in colors of a sunset in Florida. She had CDs from NIN and Soundgarden and Nirvana . She had videotapes of Reservoir Dogs and Clueless and Goodfellas. It was her life throughout the 1990s coded and catalogue in a dusty garage. A lot of it she wanted to keep, but when I asked her why she had bothered to invite me over if that was the case, she started to dump out boxes of it into her truck, and eventually mine too when I proffered it to her.
There were a few things she could not bear to part from but she still did for some reason. A mood ring from prize machine in a down and out Domino’s Pizza, her favorite restaurant since college, in Florida: she got it right after she got off the phone with her brother who told her their mother had just died after a nine month battle with cancer. A junky copy of a PeeWee Herman photograph and signature: she got it when we went out to one his shows. The last thing she wanted to keep but placed in the dumpster was rusted Swiss Army knife. I didn’t know the story behind that one.
Anyway, I took them and keep them in my garage now. In case she changes her mind.
posted by Savanah on Dec 1
Robson Square in Vancouver is located close to many properties under the care of TransGlobe Property Management. While living in Vancouver one can spend time in the park skating, or dancing the night away. This is town square, that while it is open air, it is also partially underground. Located in the middle of town just between the court buildings and the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Every Friday night the dancing is free and the music is provided by local live musicians. Classes are given for those who wish to take part, in swing dance and Latin moves of the Salsa, and you can either dance with friends or sit in the grass and watch. This is an all ages park, complete with skate board parks just in the Skytrain. Another meeting place for the residents of Vancouver is Vanier Park. This is the place to be if watersports are your game. There are places to rent canoes and kayaks, sailing classes and windsurfing. And this is the popular spot for all ages to come to to just simply fly their kites. This is the spirit of the city as well as the spirit of TransGlobe Property Management.
Living in a community is what life is all about, and the staff at TransGlobe brings this feeling into the rental properties that are under their management. So when deciding on where to move, or when making choices about your vacation rental, the choice to go with this company is an easy one, as there is really no better company to put your life, or your holiday in the hands off. So head to the beach in Stanley Park, enjoy the swimming pools and the mountain hikes, or take a ski vacation through Cypress Mountain or Mount Seymour and trust the rest to TransGlobe Property Management.
posted by Savanah on Nov 18
When a property owner decides to hire a management company, they are literally putting the success of that property into the hands of someone else. It is important to find a company that is reputable and one that will care for one’s building as well as the tenants who are renting space in that building. The team at Transglobe Property Management create a sense of community that is difficult for others to compete with. This sense of community creates a positive atmosphere as the tenants will know that they are supported and taken care of by the best of the best. This also creates a rallying system, in that if the tenants are well cared for, so too shall they care for the space in which they are renting. They will consider the choices and the decisions that they make and this will only have the most positive of results.
One way the staff at Transglobe Property Management promote this sense is by getting to know their renters and showing interest in what they do, genuine interest. Holding regular events at either apartment complexes or commercial buildings will bring everyone together. Not only will the tenants support the management team, but they will also support each other the more they get to know one another. Again, the benefits of this kind of interaction are amazing. With a company that is so honest and open, tenants know that they can call on them with any of their needs. These are two aspects that are essential to the formation of any community. Input from the residents will be considered and taken note of, as well as ideas and suggestions. And knowing that they are being heard serves to only increase the support they have of the team of managers as well as the property owner. The benefits of this can be seen the moment one steps onto any of the properties looked after by the Transglobe company.
posted by Savanah on Oct 12
The slow housing market has many people thinking twice before putting their house up for sale. Instead, many people are choosing to remodel or update their current home rather than relocate. Before you begin any project, it is important to contact a contractor. It may seem unnecessary for products such as blinds (http://www.nextdayblinds.com), but it will be worth it in the long run. Even if you are a “do-it-yourselfer”, most companies prefer to install their own products. Not only are they more familiar and extensively trained on the installation of their product but it is often a stipulation in the warranty. Although it may cost a little more, you don’t want to have to call Next Day Blinds customer service department because you accidently damaged your new Next Day Blinds trying to install them yourself.
Although many companies will provide installation services for their products, what about the larger projects? How do you choose a contractor for the move in-depth work? Often you can stop by your local home improvements store. They may have contractors that could do the job or else provide recommendations on where to find a contractor who can. Also websites such as the Better Business Bureau can provide a list of contractors in your area.
It is a good idea, once you have found a few potential contractors, to get estimates from each. There are also a few questions and things to watch before deciding who you are going to hire. One of the first things to check when considering a contractor is if they are properly licensed for the work you want to have done. Secondly, obtain and check references. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the both the contractor and their references. Third, carefully read all paperwork. All projects should be priced individually, as well as the materials list. Last, be sure that they have all the proper insurance. Regardless of what type of work you are having done, paying attention to all of these things will help ensure that all the work gets completed in a timely manner and it is of the quality you paid for.
posted by Savanah on Oct 1
Wendy and her mother Anne had an interesting experience last week when they were shopping at the local hardware and home improvement store. The two had been working together on a major backyard renovation and were planning to install a timed watering system. They arrived at the store and realized they also needed to pick up some garden decoration stones. They asked the first sales associate they could find, and it should be noted that they found one quickly, where to find the garden stones. His response was to begin giving directions before quickly changing his mind and telling them it would be easier to walk with them and guide them to the location. Wendy and Anne accepted the offer and appreciated the associate’s, who’s name they soon learned to be Jim, willingness to do so. Responsible business owners like Steven Barbarich would immediately recognize that this was the beginning of an excellent customer service encounter.
Jim guided Wendy and Anne to the section where they kept their garden rocks and stepping stones. Interestingly, it was the stepping stone that the two were more interested in, which was actually around the corner from the decorative rocks. Had Jim not taken the time to guide the two, they would have ended up in the wrong area, due to no fault of his, though they may have blamed him for it. As it turned out, they were grateful for discovering the distinction and also chose some of the decorative stones to accentuate the area. Because they had already found their stepping stones and were relaxed and pleased when looking at the decorative rocks, Wendy mentioned to Jim that they had always wanted to put a small pond in the backyard and he was happy to mention that the store currently had some great deals on pond units and accessories.
After further conversation Anne and Wendy decided they would look at the ponds and Jim went with them. They ended up buying a pond system and quite a bit more rock than they had originally intended. Interestingly, they decided to wait until the following week to install the watering system that they had come in for. What is important to realize is that the extent of customer service offered by Jim not only made the customer’s experience more thorough and much easier, it also greatly increased the store’s sales and created a repeat customer.
posted by Savanah on Sep 30
Many businesses are realizing the essential relevance of providing excellence customer service to customers, while there are others that have incorporated it into their overall philosophy and have practiced it from day one. To a customer who is walking into a business for the first time, the length of time that it has been concerned with the quality of service it provides is unlikely to be given much consideration by them. With this in mind, and as long as business is active, it is never too late to begin practicing excellent customer service. Steven Barbarich does not need coaching to realize the importance of great customer service. Nor does he practice it simply for the increased sales it helps to incorporate or the repeat customer advantages associated with it. Barbarich insists on providing quality customer care because he has been on the consumer end of less than adequate service and respects his own customers too much to let this happen to them.
Providing excellent customer service is something that does not occur simply when the purchase is being made. It begins with first contact with the customer and does not end until it is assured that the customer is pleased and satisfied with the purchase. To ensure this, there are many practices that businesses can put into place. One of the easiest is to provide employee training on customer service skills and incorporate it into the position requirements. In today’s increasingly global market, cultural diversity awareness and training can also play an extremely important role in the quality of service a business is able to provide to a consumer. Maintaining high professional ethics and offering quality products or services is another easy way to help ensure customer satisfaction. Ultimately, a happy customer will make a purchase and when appropriate become a repeat customer. This is reason enough to care about the well being of an otherwise stranger.
posted by Savanah on Sep 29
Companies doing business globally should first find a consulting firm that takes an integrated approach in analyzing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the anti-corruption polices. Consultants that consider all issues and requirements that may be triggered, which includes the Sarbanes-Oxley requirements and obligations under the securities laws and the anti-money laundering laws. They should have lawyers with depth of experience in successfully dealing with the full spectrum of embargo laws and export controls that may be triggered by your international dealings.
The consulting firm should have a team with which to help you comply with the FCPA, the Anti-Bribery Convention and any and all anti-corruption regimes. There work should provide global solutions for you company facing the challenges of an ever increasing complex regulation and intensified global enforcement.
They should also excel in cross-border collaboration. Whether a Europe-based company is conducting FCPA due-diligence for a merger transaction that spans multiple jurisdictions or a U.S. Issuer responding to an RFP in the Middle East, which involves an Asia-based service provider. The consulting firm should have strong capabilities and nice cohesion that will enable them to bring their team members’ collective insights that regard all cultural matters, legal issues and political risks.
The consulting firm should provide assessments and audits of internal controls that will detect and prevent potential FCPA violations, identify the ‘red flags’ and conduct pre-acquisition due diligence to minimize the successor risk liability, they should establish protective measures that incorporate anti-corruption related contract provisions and obtain opinions released from the U.S. Department of Justice. Then need to counsel you on the guidelines for business courtesies concerning gifts and entertainment to not only foreign officials under the FCPA, but the local laws as well. Therefore, non-U.S. Based and U.S. Based issuers, public and private companies, boards of directors, individuals and audit committees in diverse industries, such as yours, will be well equipped and well informed concerning the FCPA and be of compliance.
posted by Savanah on Mar 28
February 2009 saw double-digit drops for hotels in the Asia/Pacific region. Occupancy rates dropped 12.1 percent to an average of 59 percent. While tourism has been hurt by the current bank and credit crisis, the numbers indicate the true impact of the decline that started in December.
There are three key performance metrics used to gauge the health of the hotel industry. In addition to occupancy rates, the region saw a 21 percent decline in the average daily rate which dropped to US$114.82. The revenue per available room also fell 30.5 percent in February to US$67.70 according to statistics compiled by STR Global.
Phuket, Thailand saw the greatest decrease, falling 20.3 percent from last February when they were at nearly 100% occupancy. The island paradise has been a haven for tourists from across Asia and other parts of the world. The hospitality industry is in crisis mode. The immediate future seems bleak, especially for a five star hotel Phuket.
Jakarta, Indonesia only fell 3 percent while several key markets registered increases in the year-over-year numbers. Seoul, South Korea saw an increase of 22.1 percent while Bali (Indonesia) grew 2.6 percent. In Japan, both Tokyo and Osaka saw modest increases as well, 5.4 percent and 1.5 percent respectively.
Occupancy rates by country ranged from a 35.3 percent drop in India to a 9.9 percent drop in Australia. China and Singapore both experienced decreases of over 20 percent.