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Demystifying Freight for Retail Startups

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As a new retail business owner, you have many concerns regarding your footprint and how you will not only get in front of customers but find a way to transport your products to them, as well as to your suppliers, distribution centers, manufacturers, partners and warehouses. That’s a lot of shipments to think about!

Not only do you have to coordinate those shipments with different people across different companies and different locations around the world, but now you have to navigate the freight and transportation industry. And industry that has been around since the 1950s in the United States. And, you have to find your niche so you’re not overpaying or losing money on damage claims.

As a startup, you won’t have the initial volume of shipments that a traditional freight carrier or common carrier requires in order to give you the best rate on shipping freight. Luckily for you, the industry has resolved that by creating brokers or third-party logistics providers (3PLs) that consolidate shipments with smaller-volume shippers so that they together get the buying power of a giant shipper. Sounds good, right?

In some cases, a 3PL has trucks or is considered “asset based”. That can be a benefit to some shippers who have identical shipments moving back and forth along the same highways on a frequent basis. But, not every logistics need is the same and it’s beneficial to work with a 3PL that can find you capacity (aka room on a truck) and that isn’t confined to working with their own trucks.

A 3PL can save you time and money by finding competitive freight rates and services instantly. Once they find a rate, they also handle everything else with the carrier from the date of pickup to delivery. By far the easiest way to save money, is working with a well-known 3PL that has the most carrier contracts. Chances are, they have the best negotiated rate.

Now that you know what type of partner you need to handle your logistics needs, here are the materials you need and four steps to packaging your shipments.

Materials You Will Need:

  • 70-gauge Shrink Wrap (stretchable plastic film)
  • Corrugated Cardboard Boxes
  • Strapping Tape
  • Wooden or Plastic Pallet
  • Wooden or Plastic Crate (included and delivered with our You Crate shipping partners)
  • Foam Padding or Bubble Wrap
  • Rope or Pallet Straps

Freight Packaging Steps

Step #1: Determine whether your freight is considered fragile or non-fragile.

Fragile

  • Glass
  • Computer Equipment
  • Electronics (all types)
  • Small Furniture
  • Household Goods (liquids, etc)
  • Personal Effects
  • Artwork/Fine Art/Sculptures

Non Fragile

  • Clothing and Footwear
  • Paper Items
  • Plastic Items
  • Canned Goods
  • Carpeting and Flooring
  • Tools and Hardware
  • Machinery

Step #2: Determine if your freight should be palletized.

Items That Need To Be Shipped On A Pallet:

  • Machinery
  • Heavy Equipment
  • Engines
  • Compressors
  • Lawn Mower
  • Motorcycle
  • Ovens/Stoves
  • Dishwashers
  • Washing Machines/ Dryer
  • Fridge
  • Sofa
  • Tables/Desks and Chairs
  • Large Furniture & Televisions

Step #3: Safely package the contents of your freight.

  • Safeguard against spills and stains by placing vulnerable items in individual plastic bags before packing inside a box or crate

Step #4: Secure and label the outside of your packaged freight.

  • Do not use household scotch tape or masking tape. Aim for commercial-grade, durable strapping tape at least two inches in width
  • Each box should require at least three pieces of tape along the open seams

After reading this, you should feel empowered to make smart decisions about shipping and logistics. And also know that there are many like you who are thinking about growth and scalability. After all, you won’t be able to call three carriers and wait on the line for freight quotes for every shipment forever.

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Source by Terese E Kerrigan

Movers – Know the Signs of a Superb Moving Company

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Many people use movers when they relocate from one house to another. If you are interested in going this route, it is helpful to know what makes a good moving company. This is especially important if you know anything about the agency you are considering, as having an idea of how a good moving company should work can allow you to see whether the one you have chosen is the best for you.

You should feel that the movers you chose are professional. Of course, this does not mean that they have to show up in business professional attire, but their attitude should be respectful. This means returning any phone calls, supplying you with the truck you asked for, and showing up on-time.

If you have boxes that are fragile and marked as such, the movers should treat them as if there were glass in each one, whether there is or not. You should be able to trust that your things are safe with them and will be treated carefully.

Mistakes and misunderstandings do occur sometimes, but a professional company should handle it well. Blaming you or getting defensive is a sign of an agency that does not treat its customers very well.

If the movers you select show up late due to unforeseen circumstances, or accidentally drop a box and break some items, most reputable companies will compensate you in some way. This may include free or discounted services, though an even apology and offering some other way to fix the issue is considered professional.

Some companies offer extra services free of charge to their customers, especially if you are buying one of their bigger service packages. For example, it is not unheard of for movers to provide moving boxes and duct tape free when you rent a truck and some employees to help you relocate.

If you are not offered such convenience, there is no harm in asking whether you get a discount on other products or services when you purchase a particular package.

Hopefully the company you choose is one that you will be proud to recommend to friends and family should they ever need help moving. When you do choose an agency, consider how you feel during the process, as good companies will make you feel like a valued customer.

Moving is never easy, so when you hire a service to help make the process run smoother, you should be able to get what you pay for.

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Source by Andrew Stratton

School Bus Donations

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A car donation is a courteous and easy way to contribute to a noble cause. People can sponsor a school bus or donate a used school bus to an organization or any charitable group that works for social services. Organizations either use the car for the society’s needs or may even sell it to raise funds for their activities.

Many non-profit organizations are now willing to donate buses to schools. It is true that a small group of thoughtful, dedicated individuals can change the world. This is possible only because of donors who go out of their way to provide help to the needy.

Some non-profit day care centers use donated school buses to get children back and forth. They must be sure that the buses are in total repair and have no problems. They do not accept old school buses, and they have to be equipped with seat safety belts for each occupant.

Online sites are available that provide details of various school bus non-profit charities. People can either purchase them at a low cost or can even hire them. The website will tell you how to go about donating school buses and also provide information on how to receive a school bus from a charitable organization. Individuals can also register for these buses online.

The organization that people donate their school bus to usually takes care of everything from transfer of ownership to towing the car. All donors need to do is call the organization. If people wish to donate a school bus, online forms are available through many auto donation sources. Donors may submit the form and receive an early reply, with most vehicles gladly excepted. It is advisable to have the bus title ready and other relevant paper work required.

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Source by Thomas Morva

A Guide To Recent Trends And Requisites For Growing Your Car Dealership Business

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Technology has changed the way consumers make their purchase decision. Earlier, customers walk into the stores and make their purchases. The product was inspected, viewed, and compared right from the stores. Everything seems pretty simple.

With the dawn of Internet age, consumers have access to huge amount of information regarding the product they are looking for and, Mobile devices enabled them to research, view, compare and make purchases on the go. Even though some customers still prefer to buy from a physical store, they all do their market research online before buying. Same is the case for luxury goods like Cars.

1. Smartphone

Now the market is starting a move toward yet an additional shopping source, the networked car. Cars with unlimited data plans for a charge are the next trend, making the cars a wifi hub spot for their smartphone devices. In-car advertising has also been introduced by manufacturers making cars a channel for advertising their complementary products. Thanks to smartphones; networked cars will allow companies to send targeted ads to customer’s phones.

2. Car Dealership Management Systems

DMS are widely used by automotive companies to improve their business management. Nowadays, marketing and analytics integrated Dealer Management Systems are gaining popularity along with those utilizing mobile devices.

Before choosing your DMS provider, you need to ask these questions.

• Will they meet dealership expectations?

• Does the DMS solution drive more business?

• Does the DMS solution connect with the customers today?

A DMS that doesn’t satisfy these questions will not be the appropriate one for your business. A good DMS solution will be closely connected with the customer and will be constantly evolving to the technological trends.

If you have already invested in a DMS system that is not fulfilling your business needs, you can bridge the gap by deploying a mobile app which will act as an extension to your present DMS solution.

One of the apps that can help is car dealership apps for Auto dealers especially designed with customer relation in mind.

A solution to your DMS problems

The future of dealer technology will be in the fully secure, real-time, and bi-directional integration with your dealership & customer. Don’t worry if you cannot afford a fully fledged DMS system, we got your back.

Small dealers can easily overcome this shortfall of not having a DMS solution by deploying a solution which could be deployed on the Web, totally secure, available 24 x 7, highly scalable, meets the demand of the entire dealership, etc..

All of this can be met by deploying car dealers app for dealerships.

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Source by Stephen James

Causes of Hip And Buttock Pain

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Hip buttock pain may be triggered by many different causes and conditions. The goal of this article is to briefly list and describe the most common causes of hip buttock pain, but only a doctor can diagnose the source of your discomfort and recommend ways to get relief.

Pain in the hip and buttocks areas are, more often than not, caused by issues related to the nerves, muscles and blood vessels.

Of all the possibilities, a condition known as sciatica is probably accounts for the most frequent complaints. The word sciatica comes from the sciatic nerve, which is one of the largest and longest nerves in the human body. The sciatic nerve travels from the spine all the way down to the feet. It passes through the buttocks and hips, and when there’s a problem with it, the result is hip buttock pain.

There are a number of ways this nerve can cause problems. Most often, it is damaged when you have to sit in the same position for a long time. Professional truck drivers and those who sit all day in cubicles or office settings are candidates for sciatica. When the sciatic nerve is compressed by an injury or by sitting too long, it causes stinging buttock and hip pain that can be intense and distressing.

A similar cause of hip buttock pain is a pinched nerve. This can happen anywhere in the body, of course, but when it happens in the hip and buttock area it can be especially uncomfortable. Sitting, standing, and walking can be difficult, and at times you may feel as if you can’t get comfortable.

Another type of nerve pain that affects the hips and buttocks is called referred pain. This happens when there’s damage to a nerve somewhere else in the body (usually the spine). The pain follows a nerve pathway and “hurts” in a location different from the origin of the problem.

Piriformis syndrome is another source of hip buttock pain. A muscle called the piriformis is located deep within the buttocks. When there is damage to this muscle, the pain can range from mild to intense.

Claudication is a problem involving blood vessels in the hip and buttock region. If these blood vessels don’t get an adequate supply of blood, pain will result. Claudication usually involves a blockage or obstruction in an artery, and the pain is worst when you’re walking or exercising. If the pain stops when you rest, you probably have a claudication problem somewhere.

Claudication can be a symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which is caused by a blockage or narrowing of arteries in the legs. Reduced blood flow to the muscles in the buttock region triggers pain in the hip.

Bone, joint and soft tissue problems are sometimes the cause of hip buttock pain. Arthritis causes inflammation of the joints, and since the hips are among the largest joints in the body, arthritis in the hip area can be especially unpleasant.

One of the most painful joint conditions is known as sacroiliitis. Sacroiliitis occurs due to inflammation in one or both of the sacroiliac joints, which are major joints in the lower back and pelvis. Sacroiliitis can be caused by many other illnesses and conditions, including injuries, arthritis, or an infection.

Bursitis pain comes from an inflammation of the fluid-filled sac between a tendon and bone. Several different kinds of bursitis can affect the buttocks and hips.

Osteoporosis is particularly common among the elderly, and it sometimes results in hip buttock pain. Osteoporosis causes the bones of the pelvis to become weak and brittle.

Other possible causes of hip buttock pain include a number of diseases involving organs of the abdomen. There are, unfortunately, several different kinds of cancer that can cause discomfort in the pelvic area. Cancer can occur in the bones of the pelvis themselves, as well as other bones nearby.

Colon cancer and rectal cancer don’t usually present symptoms at first. But when they advance to a later stage, hip and buttock pain are prominent signs.

Finally, pregnancy can be a cause of hip and buttock pain. Carrying the extra weight of an unborn child places a strain on the muscles of a woman’s lower back, hips and buttocks. This pain usually goes away after childbirth.

Once again, the intent of this article was to give you an overview of the most common causes of hip buttock pain. Your doctor, however, is always your best source for information about causes and treatment.

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Source by Neal Kennedy