Saving on office supplies

For all the Richmond business owners out there, here's a good article on how to save on office supplies from Office Interiors Filing Systems.

What is third party logistics, and what do these providers do?

The below article comes from Richmond Cold Storage.

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Third party logistics providers offer a plethora of services to a variety of companies and clients on behalf of themselves. They have the capabilities to execute functions ranging from management, physical labor and systems technology. More specifically 3PL providers can carry out transportation, warehousing, distribution, packaging, cross-docking and inventory management.

There are two types of 3PL providers: asset-based and non-asset based providers. The differences are that asset-based providers own some of the elements, or assets, used in supply chain management. They may own and operate a distribution center or warehouse. They may also manage the trucking and freight services their clients need. On the other hand, a non-asset based provider does not fully own or operate any service offered to clients. This is a double-edged sword, while it gives them the freedom to select individual service providers based on the needs of customers; the operations are not done from the non-asset provider’s office or warehouse so there aren’t as many people overseeing that operations are carried out correctly.

Supply chain management offers many benefits to people in the production and manufacturing industries. Having even one key element of your manufacturing and distribution process covered by a logistics company greatly speeds up the entire supply chain. Not only do 3PL providers quicken the time it takes for an item to be ready for purchase or consumption; they provide greater efficiency and customer service to the businesses. Third party logistics and outsourcing companies take over responsibility of a company’s supply chain, and in doing so they build valuable relationships with their customers. The result is better efficiency and customer service, the two key components in running a successful, profitable business. For example, outsourcing warehouse and transportation functions offers the confidence of knowing that your goods will be stored and transported in a proper manner on behalf of the logistics company.

The future of 3PL companies continues to look bright. Many businesses will tend to prefer outsourcing all or some functions because it gives them more time to focus attention on the key elements of their business. One may not think that relinquishing some power over a company to a logistics provider will produce even better control, but that’s exactly what people find true. If you’ve chosen the right 3PL company, their expertise of the industry will ensure your supply chain is followed through and completed properly.

Thanksgiving and The Holiday Season in Virginia

Thanks to Richmond VA new home builder Lifestyle for the below article about the upcoming Holidays in central Virginia!

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In Central Virginia, the acknowledgment of upcoming holidays is often felt throughout the region as early as mid-November. Decorations such as cornucopia, pumpkins and adorned door wreaths are reminiscent of the falling autumn leaves. As families gather around the table for a traditional Thanksgiving feast it is evident that the holidays are in full swing. Once the fresh-cut Christmas tree stands start opening residents get in the spirit of decorating for the holidays. Excited shoppers can find extended hours, and deals, at all of the shopping centers and outlet malls, where Santa and his elves are waiting to greet young children. Each year brings new and annual holiday traditions to Virginia and below is a short guide of different holiday happenings coming to the region, in particular in Richmond and Williamsburg.

Richmond, VA

Ukrops Christmas parade takes place in early December and attracts more than 100, 000 Virginians from all over the state. It traverses two miles of Richmond, complete with marching bands, floats, and life size helium holiday balloons. It is the single largest event of the year in the state of Virginia, and begins at the Science Museum on Broad Street and makes its way deeper into the city at 7th Street.

Gardenfest of Lights at Lewis Ginter is another area holiday tradition. The light show features more than a half million bulbs arranged in botanical themes throughout the beautifully vast gardens at Lewis Ginter. Handmade decorations and lavish ribbons are also used to decorate the gardens for the fest of lights. Months of preparation are put into this event, as organizers and staff start adorning the gardens with lights in August and some aren’t taken down until February. Make a day or night of its beauty and reserve a dinner reservation among the phenomenal lights in the garden.

The Bizarre Bazaar makes a visit to the Richmond Raceway Complex every holiday season. This a large-scale exhibition provides a unique offering of gourmet foods, toys, clothing and accessories, imported and handmade jewelry, quality crafts and fine arts, antiques, reproduction and hand-painted furniture and of course, holiday treats, ornaments and decorative accessories, and this doesn’t even cover most of it! You don’t want to miss this kick-off to the holiday season! The Bizarre Bazaar offers a unique shopping experience, but also grants charities and non-profit foundations the opportunity to raise funds for their organizations through special volunteer hours and sales at the show.

Williamsburg, VA

Busch Garden’s is often referred to as one of the world’s most fanciful theme parks, and the holiday season is no exception. The park’s Christmas Town celebration is an annual holiday event. It includes more than a million sparkling lights, scents of potpourri and fresh baked Christmas baked goods, unique gift ideas, and an extravagant 45-foot, light-animated Christmas tree. Visitors can still enjoy some of the park’s most well-known rides, and its entertaining shows—all with a holiday twist!

In most parts of Williamsburg, you can feel the holidays approaching when the town decorates in a fashion true to their roots—in colonial 18th century fashion. Ranging from the Grand Illumination, lighting of the town’s Christmas tree, caroling and 18th century live holiday stage productions, this area of Central Virginia does not fall short on holiday happenings!

Better Bone Check

This article comes from AT Home Care - a provider of elderly care in Virginia.

Osteoporosis, a disease characterized by porous bones, threatens the quality of life of millions of older Americans. As it advances, bones weaken and become brittle, sometimes fracturing from minor falls or even just coughing or sneezing.

Who is at risk?


Most at risk are slim, small females of Caucasian, Asian or Hispanic descent-and the incidence is increasing most rapidly among Hispanic women. A family history of the disease increases the likelihood of developing osteoporosis. Other contributing factors include poor diet, early menopause, excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco smoke and a sedentary lifestyle. Long-term use of steroid medications and certain illnesses, like thyroid disease or anorexia, add to the risk, too. Although males develop osteoporosis too, it is four times more common in women than men. Ten million Americans have the disease and another 34 million have low bone density, putting them at risk of developing osteoporosis.

Bones continually break down and rebuild, but the rate at which this remodeling proceeds slows with age, making osteoporosis a major public threat for Americans 50 or older. In 2005, it was responsible for more than 2 million fractures.


While not curable, osteoporosis is preventable if bone loss is detected early. Once diagnosed, it is treatable. Left untreated, however, it can impede mobility and hasten death. Women start out with lower bone mass than men and lose more after menopause because of decreased estrogen production, putting them at risk of osteoporosis earlier than men. Men are most at risk after age 75.

Prevention


Osteoporosis advances symptom-free. Most people don't know they have it until they suffer a fracture, most commonly of the hip, spine or wrist, although any bone can be affected. Other signs include severe back pain, loss of height due to vertebral fractures, and spinal deformity, such as a "dowager's hump." Hip fractures, the most feared, usually require surgery or hospitalization and often cause long-term or permanent disability or even death.

Osteoporosis prevention can begin in adolesence. Regular weight-bearing exercise and adequate consumption of calcium and Vitamin D, which is necessary for the body to absorb calcium, are essential for forming strong bones. By age 18, girls have 90 percent of their adult bone mass; boys, by age 20. Peak bone mass occurs at about age 30, after which bone growth slows.

In the five to seven years after menopause, bone loss accelerates rapidly, and women can lose 20 percent of their bone mass in that time period. Because of this, doctors recommend that women with risk factors for osteoporosis consult their doctor well before menopause about possible tests, treatments or necessary lifestyle adjustments. At any age, it is possible to build bone mass.

Diagnosis


A bone mineral density test is the common method to detect osteoporosis or osteopenia, which is mild bone loss that increases the risk of developing osteoporosis. Doctors review a patient's risk factors and medical history in determining whether a bone density test is needed. Repeated at intervals of a year or more, these quick, painless tests can track bone loss and help predict the likelihood of fractures.

Bone density scans aren't perfect. While tests like DEXA are the gold standard for detecting the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis, they can sometimes miss fracture-prone skeletons and can deliver false alarms that lead to unneeded prescriptions for bone-bolstering drugs. A better check is here. Just ask your doctor to enter your bone density score-along with about nine other key risk factors for broken bones-into a new fracture assessment calculator called FRAX.

Developed by the World Health Organization, FRAX was made available in the United States in the spring of 2008. The online calculator makes adjustments to account for bone differences between women and men and among people from four different racial and ethnic groups: African-American, Asian, Caucasian, and Latino. It also takes risk factors into account, including your age, weight, height, personal and family fracture history, alcohol and steroid use, and whether you have rheumatoid arthritis. The result: You get a personalized 10-year-risk score, which can help your doctor decide whether you need an osteoporosis drug, says Bess Dawson-Hughes, MD, director of the Bone Metabolism Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.

If your doctor doesn't offer to run your personal data through FRAX, ask her to do so by logging on to www.shef.ac.uk/frax.
Bone density tests are recommended for all postmenopausal women with one or more risk factors or postmenopausal women who are not taking hormone therapy; men aged 50 to 70 with one or more risk factors; all women 65 or older and men 70 or older.

Depending on the test results, your doctor may recommend a treatment plan that includes medication, exercise and diet.

Family Law Practice

I've been looking for a family law attorney in Richmond recently. It's a complicated field and like other areas of law, it's sometimes brought about because of less than ideal circumstances (i'm speaking more to the divorce side of family law when I say that). Here's Wikipedia's take on Family Law:

"Family law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including:

* the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships;
* issues arising during marriage, including spousal abuse, legitimacy, adoption, surrogacy, child abuse, and child abduction
* the termination of the relationship and ancillary matters including divorce, annulment, property settlements, alimony, and parental responsibility orders (in the United States, child custody and visitation, child support awards).

This list is by no means dispositive of the potential issues that come through the family court system. In many jurisdictions in the United States, the family courts see the most crowded dockets. Litigants representative of all social and economic classes are parties within the system.

There are some criticiscms of family law practice as well. Wikipedia describes them as:

Members of the fathers' rights movement criticize the "win or lose" nature of family law in determining issues of divorce and child custody in many Western countries. Cross-national parties dealing with legal systems in different countries simultaneously grapple with substantive and procedural issues regarding child concerns.

Tips for Improving Office Efficiency

Working from home takes a ton of discipline. It's very easy to get distracted and to wander off task. I came across this article recently that gives some tips on productivity. I'm re-posting it with permission of Office Interiors.

Every office and workplace has ways to make their business operations run more smoothly. Whether you need to better manage your time or simply de-clutter your workspace, there are numerous tips to help individuals, as well as a team of co-workers, function in a well managed office. Some tips may improve the physical organization of your office, and others are more individualized tips keep on employees on top of tasks. Together, this broad list of ideas is certain to bring more organization and efficiency to the workplace.


• Clear your desk top of all personal mementos. Hang them on the walls, place them on shelves, but give yourself space to work at your desk, without distractions. Keeping an organized, de-cluttered workspace helps you work more efficiently.


• Invest in some of your own inexpensive work supplies and keep them stocked inside your desk in an organizing tray. This way, you can avoid constantly searching for pens and paper clips, or overusing the company-wide supply.


• Consider new ways to organize the supply closet used by employees. Create a list of who takes how much of what and when. Designate a particular person to keep track of the list, specifically the person who takes inventory and orders more supplies. This will insure no one is using too much.


• Conduct quarterly or biannual organization of filing cabinets, discarding, or consolidate and re-file away unnecessary documents and paperwork. Put a shred/recycle program into place.


• Once you’ve completed a phone call, write down the next action you need to take relating to the call. Do you need to follow-up, provide feedback, make another call, fax or get something in the mail? If you can't complete the next action immediately, write it down.


• Simplify a big project by writing down everything, and group steps and tasks together. Then, put the tasks in order and set up a time line with deadlines and goals.


• Regularly schedule meetings to assess the progress the group is making and identify and expand upon what goals people are meeting. A group huddle, as such, should involve everyone in the office or department.


• Schedule appointments and meetings with both start and end times. People are more concise and to-the-point when they are creeping up on a deadline.


• Set deadlines for when tasks must be completed. This may seem silly, but when one person slips on meeting a deadline, it negatively affects someone else, decreasing more people’s efficiency in the workplace.


• Make your work day more productive by leaving the office in the afternoon for lunch. Energize yourself for the remainder of the day by getting some fresh air or just relaxing somewhere outside of the workplace.


• Reduce interruptions at work by moving your desk so you can't see the door. Passersby will not be able to catch your eye as they walk by, thus avoiding unnecessary conversation.

Source: Office Interiors Improving Office Efficiency

The History of Cold Storage and Refrigeration Systems

[Reprinted with permission of Richmond Cold Storage]

Even before mechanical refrigeration systems were introduced, people needed a means of keeping their food at safe temperatures. Most ancient cultures used ice and snow to keep food cool. Harvesting ice and snow during the coldest months was an important task for people, and what was more crucial was rationing the supply in warmer weather when it was scarce. Many cultures dug holes into the ground and lined these dugouts with wood or straw, and packed the area with snow and ice. Today, one would never imagine the hardship of preserving food, but this was the sole means of refrigeration back in prehistoric times.

The first ever record of synthetic refrigeration was introduced by William Cullen in 1750’s. An expert in the field of natural sciences, most notably, chemistry, Cullen, utilized a pump to create a makeshift vacuum, which made it possible to boil and absorb heat from surrounding air. Cullen’s seemingly small experiment produced a small amount of ice, but at the time his experiment was just that, an experiment.

Several years later, Ben Franklin and a fellow associate further researched and experimented with evaporation. Little did they know it would become a key process in the development of refrigeration, since all heat must be removed, or evaporated, from an area in order to keep cool. Together they learned that highly unpredictable liquids like alcohol and ether could bring the temperature of an object down low enough to freeze. After this notable discovery, many scientists began experimenting with refrigeration and ice-making techniques.

Refrigerators for household use were introduced to the market in 1915. However, it wasn’t until the 1930’s that they gained wider use and acceptance. During this time, the price tag of such a commodity started to decrease due to the implementation of Freon and other non-toxic refrigerants.

With the convenience of today’s refrigerator, most people do not realize how important the appliance is to their daily routine. Refrigerators are used to store any type of food that without such storage risks spoilage from bacterial growth. The household appliance maintains a temperature just a few degrees above the freezing point of water, similar to a freezer, which maintains a temperature below the freezing point of water. It is not until this essential household convenience breaks down that we recognize what it is like to live without.

The most significant impact of the refrigeration on today’s families is that we are much more able and apt to eat fresh produce and have more healthy selections of food than we would without access to such storage. In addition, people are able to buy food in bulk, or prepare homemade foods in larger quantities and store it in a freezer for a longer period of time. Regardless of what we store in our refrigerators, it is an important element in our daily functions, from morning to night. In this day in age, where we have modern conveniences to make just about any daily task easier, it is difficult to imagine how people once kept perishable foods safe to consume without the use of such an important device.

[Source of original article]

Patio Paver Guide

I'll admit it, I'm the kind of guy who enjoys watching This Old House and even HGTV occasionally. For as long as I've wanted a nice house, I've wanted good landscaping to go along with it. I love the outdoors, so when I can't experience it away from home, I like to be able to enjoy it on my own property. Whether I'm entertaining guests or sitting out on the porch with the wife and dog (separate entities ;)), I like something functional and nice to look at.

Considering the current state of the economy, I decided to tackle the install of the pavers myself (the wife insisted I was crazy to do so and we even made bets as to whether or not it would work out). Of all the guides I found online, one of the most helpful was this article on patio pavers design tips.

While I won't claim it came out THIS well, I will say I won the bet :)

Law Advice

Found some really good law advice:

Richmond Personal Injury Attorneys

I'm not going to lie, one of my biggest fears is being seriously injured to the extent I lose the ability to function and operate like a "normal" human being. For example: becoming paralyzed, losing a limb, severe burns, brain injury, etc. I'm such an active human being that any one of these would partially or totally prevent me from ever doing them again. In the event that this ever does happen and if I'm not the one to blame, you can rest assured I would hire the best personal attorney lawyer in Richmond I could find. While I wouldn't expect money to solve my problems, I think it's important for those responsible to take ownership over what happened while bringing exposure to whatever caused my situation.

Home Health Agency Tips

Here's a pretty good article on how to choose the right home health care agency:

Home Health Care Virginia Tips

It comes from AT Home Care, located in Richmond VA

Chesapeake Bank Cash Flow Program

What’s a small carrier do when all of the incoming checks are “in the mail” and the bill collector is on the phone or at the door, or heaven forbid, wandering the truck stop tarmac with a repo driver?

The obvious solution is to manage the books a little better, but there are times that even smartly run businesses will face a cash crunch. The trick is not to be caught by surprise—to plan rather than panic.

And that’s where Cash Flow, a line of credit offered by the Chesapeake Bay can come in handy, according to Kevin Wood, a sales officer for the bank.

But what he’s really marketing, he says, is “peace of mind”.

While Cash Flow might initially present itself similarly to factoring services—used in the invoice-intensive shipping industry for years—Wood explains there are important differences.

Where factoring often means handing over all of a carrier’s accounts receivable in exchange for discounted ready cash, Cash Flow is based on a banking model of credit—and includes bank regulatory and reporting assurances.

The Virginia bank has had a number of trucking and logistics customers in the program over the years, Wood explained. He said Cash Flow is a “great fit” for transportation companies not only because of the “cash gap”, or the typical industry billing lag, but because it can be used to exploit some efficiencies of doing a cash business on the expense side.

The program also features flexibility and case management options not found in most factoring arrangements, Wood contends. Because the customer is still in charge of the actual collection process—the payment is simply sent to a bank controlled post office box—the transactions are seamless.

As an example of transportation-oriented business that has used the program effectively, Wood explains that one customer—a moving company—has a seasonal business that will invariably see a couple of slow months during the year. The company uses the Cash Flow line of credit to keep up with payroll rather than reduce staff during the off season.

When asked why more didn’t offer similar programs, Wood said banking regulators typically labeled such loans as high-risk because of their “non-asset” nature, and that most banks are simply more comfortable handling routine home mortgages.

He also noted that Chesapeake Bank has favored business with smaller companies, cultivating a clientele with sales in the $1 million to $3 million range—a market segment often overlooked by banks that prefer lending big.

“Over the years, we’ve figured out how to do it, and we’ve just slowly grown the program,” Wood said, adding that the program has featured as many as 75 customers at a time, with a life cycle of three or four years.

“The best fits are companies in growth mode,” Wood said—meaning experienced outfits who know how to run a profitable business but who are “taking advantage of the marketplace” by expanding their fleets or improving equipment.

Carriers should use good business sense when making any such financial decisions, of course. In an ideal world, that means having sufficient cash reserves to cover the cash shortage.

Tom Weakly, director of operations for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) Foundation, said his organization recommends a 60 to 90 day cushion of operating funds, based on the typical billing cycle.

Similarly, the organization, “doesn’t encourage” borrowing against receivables, or selling them at a discount, because “it helps put you further in the hole,” Weakly said. “At the same time, we recognize that in some cases it may be the only way to get money flowing.”

Truckers who are just getting started with their own authority often face a “pretty dramatic change,” Weakly said, when they find out that the payday for a particular load doesn’t come automatically to a driver who is now his own boss.

To that end, Weakly and the association suggest truckers do their research when it comes to any sort of business deal.

Patio Stones - Eagle Bay

Given the popularity and practicality of patio stones, it’s no wonder that they have been the chosen medium for flooring for years. As a matter of fact, Romans considered similar stones in 300 B.C., when faced by the project of building roads. By 200 A.D., Romans successfully used stones to create roads through their villages. That traditional, old-world charm is consistently being used today. While the initial appeal of stone began with fireplaces, it has now rapidly expanded outdoors to custom built patios, barbeque pits, privacy walls and lounging areas.


Although the use of stone for exterior applications dates back centuries, it is still a common practice today. This trend has dramatically increased over the past 40 years and continues to be a design must-have in residences and commercial properties. Patio stones are not only one of the most durable building materials, but they provide a timeless appearance, often desired for both residential and commercial designs.

The advantages and uses of manufactured patio stones are endless. While they are durable and low maintenance, the advantages of the material extend far beyond their physical qualities. Patio stones aid in synchronizing a structure with its environmental surroundings. In addition, they add aesthetic to the surrounding property. They are used to build patios, decks, walkways, retaining walls and other outdoor structures. In any design, patio stones never fail to create a functional outdoor environment considered part of the home. Oftentimes, patio stones are used more subtly, as accent pieces. However the design is drawn up, architects and designers continue to discover innovative ways to utilize patio stones to their fullest potential.

If you scroll the pages of a home renovation or design magazine you will see evidence of the growing trend in patio stones. In the past years, landscapers and contractors have taken a new approach to using this historic material outdoors, and in such work, create luxurious and inviting spaces outside the home.

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Eagle Bay is a leading provider of patio stones and other hardscape products. If you're looking to add more excitement and functionality to your yard, visit them online.

Cold Storage Warehousing - Richmond Cold Storage

Cold storage warehousing logistics are a widely used tool in the complex and competitive market of manufacturing and distribution. With cold storage warehousing on the rise, more companies choose to rely on the expertise of the third party logistics industry to meet their storage and distribution needs. However, the growing refrigerated warehousing trend produces a heavy responsibility on cold chains to meet the ever-so growing demand of trade and consumption rates. There was a time when many of these logistics companies wondered if they could stand up to the challenges in running a one stop shop. Fortunately, in the past 10 years the precision of technology made cold storage warehousing operations easy to manage, therefore, too hard for manufacturing companies to pass up. The result was that food manufacturers began to outsource their food storage and transportation needs to refrigerated storage experts.



Without cold storage warehousing operations, companies would have to self-operate massive warehouses and spend a considerable amount of time and resources on computerized tracking and inventory systems. Due to the demand and increase in cold storage warehousing, logistics teams rely heavily on information technology, automated systems, cross-docking and other methods to promise accuracy and speed. These consolidated functions guarantee clients shorter storage times and fast transport to shelves. Just recently, cold storage operators have developed even more expertise in their operations through experimentation and the application of new technology. Now, manufacturers can get back to what they initially sought as their main focus, developing quality products.

Richmond Cold Storage does not only take responsibility for the safe storage of goods. We pride ourselves in running your entire operation, everything between point of manufacturing to point of sale. We see to it that whether inbound or outbound, your products and materials will get to the right place, at the right time. Our main goal is to see to it that your products are in the hands of a satisfied client or consumer.

Welcome to Richmond Business Spotlight

Richmond, Virginia has a lot to offer. Located two hours from the ocean and two hours from the mountains, it is a wonderful area to settle down and raise a family.


Richmond is best known for it's history, culture, food, and business. With this blog, I will spotlight business throughout the Richmond Metro area while providing additional insight into their industry.