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What's New ?
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Reducing the Post Holiday Commerce Blues
Many retailers face a sales lull after the holidays and it can really start the
year off on a negative note. To add insult to injury many stores not only slow
down but they also see an increase in returns. Hopefully the following tips can
help you avoid or at least reduce the New Year slow down.
You may be
able to reduce the number of returns by offering discounts or free shipping on
product exchanges instead. Offering a free item (an inexpensive item) if a
person exchanges an item for another so you can avoid a complete return may
reduce exchange expenses as well.
Focus on accessories for your highest
selling holiday products. If you sold several phones or tablets during the
holidays you may want to advertise cases, cords, apps and extra batteries in
January. Many people are bargain shopping after the holidays so post New Year
sales on any item can be a draw. Promotions regarding New Years Resolutions such
as weight loss, self help guides etc. can also boost January sales.
If
you have records for previous holiday seasons to look back on you can use this
information to guide you when it comes to inventory, staff and hours. Carefully
monitoring inventory and staff hours can save you money which may offset any
reduction in sales.
Remember to take a little time for yourself. When
things slow down there is nothing wrong with taking advantage of the situation
by giving yourself a little time off. This is also a great time to complete any
educational opportunities you may have put off when you were busier.
Target marketing products and giving yourself a chance to rejuvenate may help
you turn those post holiday blues in to a chance to start the new year off in
the black.
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Home Automation
Home automation similar to that
depicted on the Jetson's (a childhood cartoon of the baby boomer era) is not very
far off. As a matter of fact much of the technology available to the
Jetson's is already here (sorry, no
flying cars, yet).
Setting up your home so it announces the weather,
turns on lights or adjusts the furnace based on voice commands or specific
schedules is common place. Products such as the Nest thermostat and others that
allow you to adjust temperatures at certain times of the day or specific days of
the week are just the tip of the ice berg.
There are smart phone apps
which when tied to home automation gadgets allow you to notify your home that
you are coming home from work so it can turn on lights, adjust the thermostat,
start a coffee maker then turn on your favorite Pandora channel.
Home
automation already allows for actions to take place based on voice recognition,
motion sensors, signal detection such as doorbells, scheduled times, temperature
and light variations and more.
Home automation is
currently in it's infancy and is going through a growth spurt where all of the
different applications are learning to work together. It won't be long and home
automation will be as accepted as a television. |
Just for Grins
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A Few More Things to Consider
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1. What animal jumps higher than a house? Any animal. Houses
can’t jump.
2. How long is a Chinese name.
3. I
used to work in a health shop, and people would come in and say, "Evening
primrose oil?" I’d say, "Please call me Kevin."
4. Last
week a hypnotist convinced me that I was a soft, malleable metal with an atomic
number of 82. I’m easily lead.
5. Out of the mouths of babes
often comes cereal.
6. Always speak well of your enemies —
after all, you made them.
7. If flattery gets you
nowhere, try bribery.
8. Never knock on Death’s door. Ring
the doorbell and run — he hates that.
9. Change is
inevitable, except from a vending machine.
10. What’s
the difference between a well dressed man on a bike and a poorly dressed man on
a unicycle? Attire. |
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Links of Interest |
Monthly Tip |
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Denison Links
Area Website Directory, Recipe Database, Family Resource Links, and E-Minder
Monarch Country
Highlights, Scores, Schedules and More..
Marketing Edge Blog
Marketing tips and Commentary
Definitely Denison
Find out More about Denison (Where to shop, eat and stay)
Be
There When They Need You The Most
December 2015 Marketing
Edge Blog Post
How Can I Get Started With Home Automation
Home
Automation article on lifehacker
Home Automation Made Simple
Home Automation
article from Digital Trends
Secunia PSI
Software Vulnerability Software
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Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI)
Secunia PSI is
a software update and vulnerability scanner that is free for private use.
Secunia PSI works on modern Windows PC's by scanning for security updates for
over three thousand software titles (including Windows updates).
The program can automate
updates for insecure programs and Secunia PSI automatically scans your PC for
insecure programs. You avoid going to multiple vendors to keep your software
secure and up to date.
Secunia PSI detects and notifies you of programs
that cannot be automatically updated or programs that are no longer supported
and offers instructions so you can install the latest available patches.
Secunia PSI does not replace an active antivirus, malware or firewall program
but it can be an important part of keeping your PC secure.
Download Secunia PSI Here
(You will need your name and email
address, but you can opt out of future contact)
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Contact:
PPP Design
Visit PPP Design
Online
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