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A Guide to Buying a Commercial Freezer

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | A Guide to Buying a Commercial FreezerIf you are considering joining the food industry, and you are looking for a merchandiser freezer that will offer you ample long term storage as well as enticing product display, this article will help you find the most practical freezer that will also help minimize the time that consumers take browsing the products that are displayed. For example, a freezer that is designed with glass panes, equipped with sufficient lighting, and is easily accessible is a necessary appliance when you have a high-traffic business. Most freezers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and it is best to choose the one that will be easy to clean and maintain and that is also energy sufficient.

What You Should Know

The following are some things that you need to consider before you buy a merchandiser freezer.

Check The Size

Choosing your fridge should be done with the available storage space in your kitchen or floor in mind. You should be cognizant of the size of your floor plan and storage capacity on the shelves. Moreover, a bigger freezer also means that you will have higher energy costs, so when you are shopping around you need to consider the energy consumption and the size of the freezer.

Number of Doors

Each merchandiser freezer model comes in two different door models that represent the different lengths and storage space capacity. They also have varied mechanisms to open such as sliding or swinging and others come with an automatic mechanism that is ideal for energy saving. If you don’t have much space to move around then you can consider taking one with a sliding door because you won’t have to worry about blocking access to other parts of your display products.

The Type of Features

Nowadays, many freezers come with digital thermostats that are valuable for monitoring temperature and ensure that optimal food storage conditions are maintained at all times. Others come with convenient features such as removable racks for maximizing storage and easier cleaning.

Energy Consumption

When you purchase a commercial freezer you are looking for an appliance that is designed for high volume storage and use, so to save on your energy consumption, you should find one that is certified for energy saving.

Find The Right Supplier

Buying a freezer means that you are looking for quality and a return on your investment. A reputable and qualified supplier is essential to avoid poor performance issues in the future. Most of the ones that offer a long-term investment are more costly, but you shouldn’t let the price dissuade you from buying a quality appliance. As the adage goes, “you have to spend money to make money”.

he Bottom Line

Ideally, you should be shopping for a freezer that will be reliable, yet easy to maintain. Make sure that you know what warranty you are being offered with your freezer in case you find latent defects. You don’t want yourself to be frustrated by issues that should have otherwise been covered by an adequate warranty policy.

A Managed Technology Service Can Help Your Business Succeed

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | A Managed Technology Service Can Help Your Business SucceedWhen it comes to helping a business succeed, there are a lot of factors to consider. One of those factors is the way technology is used. If there’s too much of it, it can actually get in the way of a good customer experience or relationship due to the impersonal nature of all of it. But if there’s not enough, it can be very difficult to accomplish what needs to be done or even keep up with competitors. Clearly, it’s a balance that’s important and has to be addressed. Here are some things to consider when choosing the technological options that are right for your company.

Not Everything Needs to be Stored On-Site

For many companies, storage for customer data and other information can quickly become overwhelming. But making good use of the IT cloud can change the game. That allows your company to store much of its information somewhere else, so it doesn’t end up with servers that are slow and bogged down, glitches, lost data, and other problems. Too much of a load on your current systems isn’t good for your company or its clients. The IT cloud gives you choices, because you can put all the info in the cloud or choose what’s stored that way and what stays in-house.

Some companies worry about data breaches and related kinds of problems, but there is good protection in most of the larger cloud services — and many of the smaller solutions, as well. While it’s still possible that someone could get into the company’s information, that’s just as much of a risk when keeping the data on your own servers. In some cases it might be even more of a risk, because not all companies have the right kind of security or the level of encryption that a cloud-based IT solution can offer. With the cloud, a business can also get services that are managed and monitored, so they have less to worry about where data is concerned.

Managed solutions Can Make Data Storage Easier and Safer

Among the ways to add security to your company’s data storage is through a managed IT service that can collect, store, and monitor access to information. With managed services, a company can focus on the other aspects of operating the business and worry less about IT issues or whether customer data will be available when it’s really needed. Additionally, it’s easier to control access to information and reduce the chances of large blocks of information being accidentally deleted, lost, or mislabeled.

Companies can control what they want to see handled by their managed IT service, and that makes it easier for those companies to have peace of mind and a strong plan for the future. If a company isn’t sure what services they really need or how to handle those options, they can also work with their provider to get the information they need to make the right choices. Not only does that help protect the company’s customers, but it’s also better at ensuring employees have access to what they need, as well.

Why is it Important to Have the Right Tools as a Business? 

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Why is it Important to Have the Right Tools as a Business? How long has your business been established for? Have you been operating for a few years or are you one of the almost six million SMEs that have recently set up on their own?

Whether you’re new to being in charge or you’ve been at it for a while, it’s important that you have the right tools in place in order to do the job effectively. This applies to all industries and roles, from office jobs to manual positions on construction sites.

But what makes having the right tools so important? Here’s a look at some of the main reasons to make sure you and your team are fully equipped.

Safety is vital

No matter what sector you work in, the health and safety of you and your employees is a key consideration. While meeting requirements, such as having a fire marshal and getting your team to carry out safety training, is likely to be top of the list, it’s important that you make sure that you’re providing the right tools too.

By working out what tools are needed early on, you can protect staff from workplace hazards and potential injuries that can happen when the wrong instrument is used for the task. For instance, if you’re managing a building site, you’ll need to make sure that fully functioning drills and drill bits are to hand. Old drills that have seen better days will need to be replaced in order to keep workers safe and complete the job.

Cost-effective planning

Planning out the tools you and your team need can seem like a significant expense at first, especially if you’re just starting out. However, by investing in good-quality machinery and tools early on, you are more likely to save money as you won’t need to replace faulty hand tools or second-hand computers shortly after paying for them.

So, if you need to buy a cement mixer for your building work or you’ve hired a graphic designer and need the very latest software and hardware, investing in new machines and computers now will mean you won’t need to think about updating them for a while. It’s worth keeping track of the tools and machinery you invest in so that you know when they might need a service, check, or to be replaced completely.

Boost productivity

Workers can’t do their job well if they don’t have the right tools. If they do have everything to hand, they can work efficiently and be more productive. Providing full socket sets for the mechanics on your team, for example, means that they are more likely to be able to easily replace tyres, getting through more jobs than if they had limited resources.

Maintain your reputation

The wrong tools or missing parts can also be time consuming and, in the worst cases, detrimental. For instance, if you run a handyman company and you and your team are working on a big project, the customer isn’t likely to be happy if their bannister can’t be completed due to a lack of good-quality handheld tools. This can impact on your business and your reputation.

Whether you’re just starting up or you’ve been established for a long time, take the time to assess what tools are required. Do any need replacing? What machinery would benefit the business? This will be time well spent.

Choosing the Best Managed IT Services for Your Business

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Choosing the Best Managed IT Services for Your BusinessNavigating information technology has become an inescapable part of every modern business, whether it is the size of an industry titan in Silicon Valley, an unassuming mom and pop shop, or anything in between. Some type of IT support is necessary, and if your business doesn’t have the luxury of on-site, tech-savvy support, you may have to outsource for managed IT services.

With a dense saturation of providers to choose from, here are the most important things to consider when seeking managed IT support for your business.

Do They Provide Sufficient Security?

Technologically oriented crime has increased at a staggering rate. Reports of industry giants suffering breaches show up frequently. To keep from being

impacted, you need to consider the standard of security your type of business requires both for your company’s safety and for your clients, vendors, and anyone else whose data you collect.

Can the provider be trusted with your company’s sensitive financial and personal information? Will they effectively encrypt your company’s network to ensure effective activity privacy and monitoring? Do they have a history of failing their customers in terms of data leaks, or are they vigilant in maintaining your protection?

Once you have found a provider that sufficiently meets these criteria, you’re one step closer to having quality managed IT support.

Are They Timely?

Tech emergencies can happen in an instant, and they can create havoc on your production and your systems quickly. In those moments, your company needs an IT service that can resolve the issue in a prompt and efficient manner.

When evaluating companies, ask yourself: Are they available at all hours of the day, every day of the year? If your services may be rendered at any given moment, so too should theirs. No company is immune from technological issues, hiccups, or potential digital attacks. Relying on the expertise of IT technicians whose services are available to you the moment you report an issue is of the utmost importance.

Although there is never a good time for a system glitch, technology often fails the people who use it at the most inopportune moments. Having an IT support team on standby who can resolve issues efficiently is key to maintaining a smooth business practice.

Are They Competent?

Pick the very best of the best that you can afford as a business proprietor. The experts on whom you depend should be exactly that: experts.

The distinction between an amateur who treats your network like a test lab and a storied professional with a distinguished background in providing service to multiple clients seems obvious. However, if you are in the market for an IT provider, take the extra time to weed out the average from the elite. Your business may have oddly specific needs or a wide range of general needs, and it is essential that whomever you outsource your technological dilemmas to is thoroughly equipped and licensed to address these problems.

Do They Meet Your Standards?

You wouldn’t risk providing subpar or thoughtless work to the clients who have employed your services. Therefore, you shouldn’t settle for anything provided by a managed IT support team that wouldn’t meet your highest expectations. Your company deserves tech support that upholds the same standards that you do.

Once you have answered these questions, evaluated the options, and taken the time to vet a reliable provider, your business can grow without your time and attention being divided. You have a secure, efficient, and competent network of experts, and you may now tend to the vital needs of your business without fear of a crash or breach.

Three Ways Property Owners Entice and Retain First-Rate Tenants

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | Three Ways Property Owners Entice and Retain First-Rate TenantsHave you ever rented to a tenant who refuses to pay rent on time, adhere to rental agreements, or get along with other property residents? If so, then you understand the value of a high-quality resident.  Whether you are trying to attract a reliable, considerate tenant with a stable income or are simply trying to keep one, these three techniques will increase your chances of finding a first-rate, long-term tenant.

1. Implement an Effective Tenant Selection Process

Quality residents are easier to find if you have a detailed screening procedure. Do not allow your need for a renter to prevent you from checking an applicant’s income, references, criminal history, previous eviction history and credit rating. Having the potential applicant provide references from previous landlords and employers will give you another opportunity to identify any red flags before generating a lease agreement.

2. Keep Your Property Well Maintained

Regular cleaning, painting, and appliance replacement will make your property look like a nice place to live. Property investment gurus like Paul Daneshrad understand that you must treat your properties as assets. Therefore, a landlord must keep their rental property impeccably maintained if they wish to entice good tenants to stay. Renters who make regular payments enable you to make repairs, comply with building code requirements, pay utilities and taxes, and supply other services to residents. You do not want to tick them off a tenant by not promptly responding when they inform you that something is broken. Keeping up with maintenance schedules and maintaining your property will reduce the likelihood of things breaking.

3. Use Effective Communication Strategies

Approachable, frequent, and clear landlord-tenant communication will help you build positive relationships. It is especially considerate for you to show flexibility in how you communicate with tenants, as some people prefer emails, texts or phone calls. Make yourself available in person and through all three of these communication modes. High-quality residents will want to stay long-term if you are easy to reach in the event of an emergency. Providing your tenant with a 24/7 contact goes a long way to building a trusting, professional relationship that will last.

Reliable and responsible tenants are hard to find, and not keeping them long-term can make your property management experience difficult. If you are choosy in your selection process, impeccably maintain your property, and practice frequent and clear communication, you are more likely to attract a trustworthy resident.