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Archive for September, 2011

Finding the Best Roofing Shingle

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

It’s time for another informative article on your roof, provided by your local experts on roofing in Salt Lake City, On Top Roofing. The purpose behind these articles is to inform and empower those do-it-yourselfers who have the desire to take control of their home maintenance. The old creed of “Safety First” will especially apply when you’re working on the roof of your home. The dangers of your roof far exceed those of inside your home, wood shop, or even your treacherous attic.

In this article we will be describing the pros and cons of the different types of shingles. Shingles are a popular roofing material and have been since its inception. The various types of shingles that are available make shingles applicable on a roof that experiences all four seasons of weather.

  • Wood Shingles – With timber readily available, most of our housing materials were comprised of wood. With a very smooth finish, wood shingles provide any home with an incredibly unique appearance. However, fire standards that have been put in place in the last century have made wood shingles almost obsolete. Since wood has a high tendency to be effected by the elements, high maintenance is required, making wood shingles one of the least used of the shingle types.
  • Asphalt Shingles – Inexpensive and very durable, asphalt shingles are one of the most used types of shingles. With a life expectancy of over 20 years, this makes complete sense as home builders are looking for ways to save the extra cent yet still maintain the quality. When manufactured, a wide variety of colors and styles are available.
  • Slate Shingles – The main attraction of slate is how resistant they are plus the length of use when maintained properly. Fire, insects and any type of weather hardly effect slate shingles. Still, slate shingles are not extremely popular due to the weight and cost.
  • Clay Shingles – In the style of tile, clay shingles tend to be found on homes in warmer climates located in coastal areas. With such dry and warm weather, the chances for fire raise exponentially. Clay tile shingles offer incredible fireproof protection and a superior life span. Clay tile shingles aren’t often found in areas where there is snow, but consult your Utah roofing contractor and discuss the pros and cons of installing these shingles.

On Top Roofing
155 Aspen Drive
Park City, UT 84098
Ph: (435) 615 – 8669

Valorem Lawfirm lives up to its “value” name

Monday, September 26th, 2011

By Amazing Firms Amazing Practices, Gerry Riskin.

An article in this month's Corporate Counsel Magazine has the spotlight on Valorem and for good reason. 

Author Susan Hansen says:

Valorem… now boasts a list of big, brand-name clients, including funeral industry giant Service Corporation International; national shoe retailer DSW Inc.; Veolia Water, a supplier of water and wastewater management services; and the online travel site kayak.com.

and later in the article reports::

…clients definitely like the fact that Valorem is more than willing to work out fee arrangements that are at least partially tied to the results they produce. Case in point: a major lease dispute that Valorem is currently handling for DSW that is headed for trial in Los Angeles this fall. As part of its agreement, the company has been holding back 20 percent of Valorem’s billings, with the final payout to be determined by how well the firm meets mutually defined success metrics in the case.

Punchline:  in a world where firms and clients are talking a lot about alternate fees (AFA), Valorem and its clients are innovating with imaginative fee and billing solutions that truly are win/win, and I say BRAVO !  Managing Partners of all firms intent on surviving would do well to analyze and understand Valorem's approach.

 For the full article, click on the image.

Disclosure:  I have the honour of serving on Valorem's Advisory Board

Originally posted at Amazing Firms Amazing Practices. Please visit http://www.gerryriskin.com/.

Why Use A Family Physician

Monday, September 26th, 2011

Family medicine is reminiscent of days of old when your doctor walked or rode to your home, which was often located on the opposite of the county. This gives the intent behind the principles Kaysville Family Medicine has believed in for years and years, that family medicine is all about the patient.

A family physician is essentially trained in every different area of medicine, but does not necessarily have a specialty in any specific body part. The purpose of a family doctor is mostly prevention, preparing and educating you on how to prevent or aid any sickness that your family may be faced with. The great thing about family doctors is you can claim them as your own, as friendships and trust tend to develop between families and the doctor that has proven their care for them.

The advantages of having a family doctor is clear. Regular visits to your family doctor have been shown to improve the overall health of the people they serve and even lower total costs of healthcare. The cost of doctor visits definitely shoots up if you’re visiting different doctors about different health issues than unexpectedly occur, such as the need for a Suboxone Physician in Utah.

  • From Start to Finish – People rarely experience relationships that last their entire lives outside of their families, but with a family physician being well versed in providing care through all the stages of life, many families find themselves with an unexpected tenured friend.

Kaysville Clinic
120 South Main Street
Kaysville UT, 84037
Ph: (801) 544 – 4227

Law Asia Hong Kong – Session Materials

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

By Amazing Firms Amazing Practices, Gerry Riskin.

Presentation Materials from the Good to Outstanding, it's all about your people" conference in Hong Kong

 

For the required PASSWORD, kindly email me. (Your email address must match your registration)

To download presentation materials, click on the relevant presentation.

Originally posted at Amazing Firms Amazing Practices. Please visit http://www.gerryriskin.com/.

Finding a Good Window Installer

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

In the United States we have so many different options in the market place it can make choosing the best option for you a struggle. When choosing replacement windows and window installers it’s best to do your homework and read reviews about what others have to say. This can really help you to sort through the options. Keep in mind the following as you begin your search.

Online Reviews
There are many different places on line where you can find reviews of local window installation companies. You can look at business review directories such as Yelp and City Search. Also, Google has a localization feature that would bring up companies in your area. For example, say you searched vinyl windows Utah or Amsco Windows Utah in Google. You will get a list of results and many of them will have a red balloon next to them. Those results with the red balloons link to a business listing where customers can write a review. These reviews can be very informative as to whether or not they are a good company to work with.

What is Offered
After looking over the reviews and getting a good idea of the window installers in your area, check to see what kind of product, services and prices they can offer you. Find reviews and research the windows on your own as well. Doing so gives you an opinion and base before going in and talking to the window sales person.

Meet With the Installer
Once you have a list of a few different installers in mind, go in and meet with them. First impressions are always something to pay attention to. Talk with them and since you have done some research, you should be able to have a pretty intelligent conversation with them about window types. Ask them about windows you have in mind and what pros and cons are of each. If you do not feel comfortable with them for any reason move on.

A window is only as good as it’s installer so do your research and make sure your investment will protect your home from the elements for years to come.

Valley Glass
26 East 800 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: (801) 534-1908

Attracting Your Trade Show Audience

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Trade shows are looked upon as an incredible opportunity to market yourself and your company in hopes of new clients and business partners alike. While this sense of optimism is felt before any convention or trade show, often people find themselves falling very short of the goals they put in place for these gatherings. What causes this shortcoming? Is it a lack of charisma on your part? Perhaps a smell emitting from that ten year old trade show carpet you just haven’t found time to replace, or a neighbor who hired an expert in custom trade show displays, stealing any chance of attention.

People often will blame themselves for the loss of connections and opportunities that could have been, and rightly so. I wouldn’t necessarily place the blame on any lack of social skills, but on the effort placed in attracting the crowd to your booth in the first place. Short of acquiring a large neon sign with “Visit Our Booth For Something Amazing…Plus a Free Prize!” hanging from the ceiling accentuated with a large arrow pointing downward, what simple practices can help your target audience be drawn to stay at your booth? While hiring the services of those specialized in Trade Show Booth Design would give you a great advantage aesthetically, why should anyone stick around to see what you have to offer?

The secret lies in keeping your services both fresh and innovative. If you could be considered a regular at any number of tradeshows, odds are you have made contacts for both business and pleasure. While you may be well liked in the casual sense, what can allow you to capitalize on the relationship you’ve already built with so many of your peers?

Ask yourself this question: What have I accomplished in the past year since I last set up shop at this tradeshow?

  • Unique Offers and Opportunities – Competition amongst businesses in the same industry has always been the fight for the most lucrative client. This is where some creative thinking and risk-taking is necessary. Separate yourself from the industry norm and think of ways you can offer your clients the full service opportunity. How much business is being lost because you do not cover every supply need of your consumer? How many clients could you gain by offering tips and techniques guarded by professionals so your patrons think of the relationship as more than just mutually beneficial. Expand your services and separate yourself from any stigma that may come with your field of work.

Any savvy buyer wants to know the company they go with is ahead of the competition not only in customer service, but the services offered and the obvious gains to be had.

Insight Exhibits
1367 South 700 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Ph: (801) 978 – 9000

Infectious Disease Education

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

In the past quarter century we’ve seen a surprising rise in the cases of infectious diseases, such as Hep A. This information will naturally raise a few questions concerning the state of welfare in our nation.

Namely:

  • Quality and condition of distributed goods
  • – Referring to the purchase and use of publicly sold items from any type of convenience or grocery store. With occasional outbreaks of bacteria and other health harming foreign bodies, most often through consumption of food, is there enough attention being paid to what we are selling to our citizens? This is the case most especially with mass produced food that is stored in warehouses as opposed to being grown.

  • State of Living Conditions
  • – With a growing percentage of Americans jobless how drastic of an effect does a decreased income have on maintaining proper living conditions for families. There has also been an increase of the number of individuals per household. This increase could lead to a higher number of communicable disease cases due to spread in such a small proximity. How can we make sure our children have the living conditions that would promote a higher level of self-care and care of immediate surroundings?

  • Education on Proper Health
  • – Education budget cuts have lead to a shorter school week, bringing about the question of what extracurricular subjects have been cut out of the school year schedule in order to accommodate for the lowered class hours. In some schools the level of attention that was once focused on personal hygiene has been erased from the curriculum completely. The level of responsibility is once again on the shoulders of parents in teaching their children how to properly care for themselves.

While it is true that other means of education, such as a number of children’s television shows, focus on proper health ethics should be a primary concern of parents. Studies are being done on how to prevent the spread of these diseases, aided by those who are willing to supply infectious disease donations. If the parent doesn’t know much more than the child does, where should the responsibility lie in educating our nation on the ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases?

Biolynk
875 North Main Street
Springville, UT 84663
Ph: (801) 491 – 8229

Cleaning Shaved Ice Machines

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

With summer’s end rapidly approaching, snow cone stands across the country will be putting their shaved ice machines away for the winter. Making sure you properly clean and care for your ice shaver will ensure that it will be in top notch condition when you bring it out again next summer. Cleaning and maintenance are not complicated but here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Cleaning
Depending on the type of shaved ice machine you have, cleaning may vary. However there are some universal steps you can do. To get all the nooks and crannies clean and good as new, you may need to take parts of your machine apart. Be sure to clean off any syrup, inside or out with a rag and warm water. Clean off any syrup bottles as well and store them in a cool dry place.

Maintenance
The most common maintenance ice shavers require is realigning the motor. Normal usage of the machine can cause the motor to become dislodged and the shaver may not rotate properly. To fix this, loosen the motor mount bolts and realign the shaft and hub. This is an easy DIY fix. Just be sure to tighten the bolts when finished!

Replacement Parts
A few of the typical replacement parts for shaved ice machines are the hopper plunger, the shaver hub, the blades, cup dispenser, service door, and drain tube. Take a look at what condition yours are in and determine whether or not they need replacing. If so, you can either contact the manufacturer or a shaved ice machine distributor.

Take care of your ice shavers this fall so they’ll be ready to go in the summer!

Snowie Shaved Ice
1006 W. Beardsley Place
Salt Lake City, UT 84119
Phone (801)-268-2225
Fax (801)-268-1814
service@snowie.com

Updating Your Curbside Appeal

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

With people looking for quality homes it may be a good idea to update your home and move away from the ’90s curbside appeal. People are deciding it is time for a change, so here are some tips for updating that house to make it look like new.

One great thing that you can do in a day is update that front entry way. You can make this look more inviting to others and it looks great. You can start with some light fixtures on either side of your door, but you should try to create symmetry so apply to both sides. Then you can add some nice flowers and maybe add a new door. You could turn your entry way into a grand entry way. Maybe tile the landing, or add some pillars to the front of your home. This will look more inviting and make people want to visit your home.

Now let us move to some cosmetic things that you can do to your home. Some things you can do is add new gutters and downspouts. This seems insignificant, but a change in gutters can really be noticed and is a nice change for your home. You could re-shingle your roof. Old shingles fad away and can have water stains, so a new roofing job by a Utah roofing expert would really add to your home and make it stand out in that neighborhood of yours.

Lets make the walk up to your home more appealing. Add some flowers and foliage to the walkway of your home. It gives it more of a natural feel. You can also add a walk way quite easily. Just go to your local home improvement store and grab some pavers. Then set them up like stepping stones really simple and effective.

With these tips your home will be looking good. People will drive down the street and really notice and take note of the way your tile or lawn stands out more than that of your neighbors. As always it’s important to remember to practice safety in any home improvement excursion you may take part in. If you’re going on your roof, it may be best to call Salt Lake City roofers and leave the dangerous items to an expert.

ShinglePro Roofing
1029 East Kensington Ave.
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Ph: (801) 938 – 7362

Success and Brand Protection

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Assuming you already have the initial idea for a business type, you’ll want to develop a strategic business plan. This plan is ever-changing, as you’ll want your company to always be taking things to the next level. This involves finding your market, or your niche. Specialize your services and more often than not people will look to you when they need a specific service provided. Innovate as much as possible and create a positive set of progress pushing goals that you want to meet within the first year of the start up phase. When it comes to your own business, no one limits the amount of growth other than yourself.

Developing a brand is very important. How do you want to be known around your community or the marketplace? You’ll need to make sure that your brand name fits easily into everyday conversation. Once you’ve decided on a name, then location, hiring and registration are all next steps. If someone has already started out with the identity you would like to use, contact a company about domain acquisition and see if there is a possibility to use the identity you desire.

Big companies household companies such as McDonalds and Walmart spend millions of dollars each year in advertising. This hopefully gives you an idea of the importance of marketing your company. Be smart with your marketing. Recognizing the growing trends of ecommerce websites will give you an idea of where you’ll want to spend your money. Optimizing your company’s website to be search engine friendly will gain not only higher rankings, but potentially more leads.

New ideas spring forth daily and the need for protecting them is on a steady rise. Online Brand Protection is the defense of any creative or innovative idea, but there is no physical product representative of the idea. Think of it as protection before the official ownership of the product has been determined or claimed. Hiring security guards for when the building is being built and not just when it opens its doors.
Marksmen
116 N Maryland Ave #120
Glendale, CA 91206
Ph: (818) 637 – 8050