Reginald Chan

Blog

  • Planning to Start a Subscription Business? Learn From These 5 Companies in the Big Leagues

    Planning to Start a Subscription Business? Learn From These 5 Companies in the Big Leagues

    Starting any business is intimidating. There’s a lot to learn about the items you’re selling, the market you’re selling to, and how to market your product. However, plenty of other companies have been precisely where you are now: wondering how to bundle and sell items at a low cost. In fact, these industry giants know how to create and maintain a thriving subscription box service!

    Let’s take a look at 5 of some of the most popular subscription boxes and why they work.

    Bouq Co.: From Shark Tank to Flower Selling Moguls 

    Bouq Co. founders John Tabis and Juan Pablo Montufar noticed an issue in the quality of flowers being sold in the industry and the shady marketing tactics online retailers would use. The Bouq Co. delivered farm fresh flowers directly to your door and didn’t hide the price until checkout. Through Montufars’ hydration process, flowers typically lasted 2 to 3 weeks.

    Tabis and Montufar rolled out overnight shipping after receiving criticism from Shark Tank that your average consumer typically forgets birthdays and holidays. Now, you can purchase flower delivery for Mother’s Day and still ensure your mother gets her present! Plus, as a subscriber, you get 30% free shipping, flexible delivery days, and beautiful floras! 

    Bark Box: Gifts and Treats for our Furry Friend

    Over 63 million households own at least one dog in the United States. With that many dog owners, it was easy for founders Carly Strife, Matt Meeker, and Henrik Werdelin to come up with a solution to a problem dog owners didn’t know they had: finding the best toys. BarkBox services over 1 million dogs monthly and can attribute that number to clever marketing. BarkBox uses Instagram to promote their business. With plenty of cute dog photos, well-crafted dog memes, and pictures of happy dog customers, it’s no wonder people choose to follow!

    Candy Club: Their Success Speaks for Itself

    Who doesn’t love candy? Candy Club founder and CEO Keith Cohn likely asked himself that question when he started a candy subscription service in 2015. While candy doesn’t come in short supply, the variety can sometimes be scarce unless you go to a specialty store. Even then, there’s still the issue of geographic location, shipping costs, or rare snacks.

    Candy Club has all of your favorites: gummy bears, chocolate-covered almonds and taffy but adds a unique spin. Plus, the monthly rotation of six 6-ounce candy cups keeps the box exciting and new. Candy Club’s secret isn’t the product: it’s the marketing. Through affiliate marketing, Cand Club has successfully garnered over 50,000 members and counting!

    Itpy: Quality Deluxe Cosmetic Samples

    YouTube beauty vlogger Michelle Phan started her own subscription service on the back of her already large fanbase and social media following. Their growth model focuses on driving subscriptions through Michelle Phan and other popular beauty Vloggers. However, their collaborative efforts with other beauty companies is what makes this box unique because they feature both small and large makeup brands. They have spent virtually no money on advertising and instead offers mentorship, access to studio space, and a larger platform.

    Dollar Shave Club: Cheap, Yet Powerful Razors

    While skimming this list, you probably said, “I know this brand,” which is a great sign for their marketing efforts. Dollar Shave Club, created by founder Michael Dublin and Mark Levine, came together over their frustration over the cost of razor blades, and who could blame them? With over 2 billion tossed razor blades per year in the U.S. alone, that cost really starts to add up.

    Although they started their company in 2011, they didn’t see any real growth until March 6, 2012, when their YouTube video entitled “Our Blades Are F***ing Great” went viral, garnering 27 million views as of 2021 and 12,000 subscription orders. Through YouTube advertisements, they’ve continued to see massive success. Plus, their razors are actually “F***ing Great.”

  • The Ultimate Silver Buying Guide In 2021

    The Ultimate Silver Buying Guide In 2021

    Investment in precious metals such as gold and platinum is gaining much popularity. Investors are continuously diving into silver buying. This is because of the high demand it has in the market. The high volatility associated with silver makes it catch the attention of many. There are different forms in which you can buy silver. The common ones are bullion, coins, and rounds.

    The demand and supply curve regarding this precious metal affects its status. It normally has a wide application in many industries from jewelry to the battery. This makes it even more relevant in commercial settings. It is considered a safer investment than a fiat currency. Silver is typically rarer than other industrial metals hence it’s able to maintain its value. It is a great idea to buy this precious metal. Here is an easy and practical guide to follow for your 2021 silver-buying mission.

    Why Is Investing in Silver Important?

    Many people focus on the more expensive options of rare metals when doing investments. This leaves more gaps in the silver investment world. It may bring about more profits than you ever thought of. In comparison to others, it has higher volatility in the market. Despite the intrinsic value being on the lower side, it beats all when it comes to value increment.

    With high volatility comes the issue of more gains. This is mostly in the bullish markets whereby the prices are expected to keep rising. 

    With few silver investors, it means less competitiveness hence safer investment opportunities. It caters also to the liquidity aspect. Many manufacturers use silver as a major raw material for production thus you can be sure of unending demand.

    The Pricing of Silver Bullion

    Even as there are options of silver investment options, bullion ranks high on the list. It is liked for the simplicity which comes with it. As an investor, straight-forward approaches make you save money and time as well. There are three forms in which one can buy silver bullion. This can be in coins, rounds, or bars.

    When purchasing silver coins, consider going online. The relevant site makes the process of ordering effortless. Most of the payment methods are also straightforward. Knowing the prices for silver is the right way to start and the price of silver is influenced by many things so, sometimes the variance comes from the method of payment you use. For instance, when using credit cards. This is mostly since the dealerships need to maintain profitability after paying the credit card companies.

    The cost of silver coins is relatively higher as compared to the total price per ounce. The main reason for this is the additional costs incurred during the minting process. It also comes from the artistry and additional quality incorporated. The manufacturing costs for the bars and rounds are relatively lower.

    The coins also have a historical value which makes them more valuable. This refers mostly to the older coins as opposed to the newly minted ones. Most stores classify the different coins under several criteria such as based on historical significance.

    Best Time to Buy

    It is necessary to keep a good track of the fluctuations in the market value of silver. There are key reasons which bring about the rise and fall of cost. The minting rate by the government has a great impact on demand. This means the lesser the minting the higher the demand in the market. Focus on the supply-demand curve before you proceed to make a purchase.

    Going to different markets can be another worthy option. The online research again allows you to identify the variance in the pricing for silver in the different markets globally. With the online stores offering shipment options, it is possible to place an order from a different region and receive your package at your doorstep. This may take longer sometimes depending on the distance your shipment will cover.

    Find Reliable Bullion Dealers

    In the precious metal industry, there are many dealers ready to offer you the silver bullions. It is for you to use the right strategies for narrowing down for the best. The best way is to check how they conduct sales. For the deliveries, for instance, look at the efficiency and confidentiality in the process.

    The packages should not tamper with the quality of the products in any way. Look at the policies attached to the purchase. Check whether they have the guaranteed buy-back options. They need to be fast with the deliveries.

    Investing in precious metals is a worthy choice. Silver may not have a high value like gold and platinum but a profitable option for investors. This is partly from the high volatility associated with it. When buying silver bullion, consider knowing the issue of price well. Know the aspects which influence the pricing. Never forget to find the right dealerships.

  • How To Be A Fruitful and Successful Forex Trader Using These Practical Tips?

    How To Be A Fruitful and Successful Forex Trader Using These Practical Tips?

    A forex trader is someone whose business or occupation is forex trading. Forex trading refers to the act and business of trading the currencies of various countries. The forex market is a very dynamic market because the value of the foreign exchange of various countries’ currencies keeps on changing daily (sometimes hourly). As a result, if you want to be a successful forex trader, you need to be highly proactive and analytical so as to make smart decisions. To enable you to do this, you should consider the following tips:

    Don’t Stop Learning 

    Just as in any other field, it is important for anyone who is planning to be successful in forex trading to thoroughly know his craft. This is because it is only someone who understands the nuances of forex trading that can navigate through the various situations and circumstances that might come up while making a trade and be able to steer them into profitable outcomes.

    Some traders have paid the price when it comes to studying how to make successful trades in forex and as such have begun to experience some form of success in their trades. This makes them quite confident that they believe that they have known or seen it all and stop learning because they feel that the level of knowledge they have is more than sufficient enough to make them successful forex traders. This sort of attitude sets them up for failure because the world of forex trading keeps on evolving and the only way you can keep up and ensure your methods or strategies do not become obsolete is to always feed your mind with new material and continually learn new things about forex trading. 

    Additionally, Traders can benefit greatly from reading reviews, as they provide valuable insights into the Forex market. For example, reviews can help to find out the best no deposit Forex brokers or provide successful trading tips, as well as insights into trading platforms and customer support. To make informed decisions, it’s important for traders to conduct thorough research and be open to adapting to market changes. By staying informed and up-to-date with market trends, traders can increase their chances of success.

    Attract Enough Investors 

    The reality concerning forex trading is that the amount of profit you would make depends largely on the amount of capital you are investing in the trade.

    No matter what you know about forex trading, it is almost impossible to make profitable trades on a level that can be regarded as successful if you do not have a high amount of capital. Thus the importance of capital to forex trading cannot be overemphasized, especially on trading platforms such as plus500. If you are a forex trader who is serious about making successful trades you need to be able to raise a high amount of capital to put into the trade. One of the most effective ways to do this is to attract investors. 

    Investors are individuals who are convinced about the profitability of your forex trading and as such commit financially to your trading business with the aim of getting profitable returns from your trades. Investors are highly important in any business because the more investors you have, the wider the range of your trade and the larger your profit.

    Thus, any forex trader who is intentional about being successful must be intentional in attracting investors by reaching out, preparing proposals, and many more. 

    Surround Yourself With Like-Minded Forex Traders 

    Birds of the same feather flock together, they say. Show me your friend and I will tell you who you are, they also say.

    Association is a very important factor in the life and success of any individual and whatever he finds himself doing. This is because the people around you can through their beliefs, character, and mindset have an influence on you positively or negatively. This influence can affect the things you lay your hands to do including forex trading. 

    It is true that the more successful forex traders are surrounded by several other successful traders. They do this to receive motivation to work harder, get hot tips that will enable them to make smarter trading decisions, and also discover new skills, knowledge, or techniques about forex trading that they can employ and incorporate into their trade. 

    For these reasons listed above, it is better for a forex trader who wants to be successful to surround himself with other forex traders who also want to be successful. This would greatly increase a forex trader’s chances of becoming successful, especially when compared to what his chances would be if he was on his own and isolated from other traders. 

    As a forex trader you need to be very sharp and sensitive because the forex market can be very dynamic and as such, sizable profits can be found in making smart decisions and seizing the right moment. The more you do this, the closer you are to being a successful and fruitful forex trader. In order for you to do this, you need to ensure you continue learning more about forex trading, attract several investors, and surround yourself with like-minded traders.

  • The Student’s Guide to Effective Online Research

    The Student’s Guide to Effective Online Research

    Research can be grueling and time-consuming. Thanks to the internet, you can access an endless pool of information with a few clicks to get you started. People engage in research for various reasons. Whatever the case, knowing how to achieve your research goals is a necessary skill in the digital space. With the steps below, you can hone your skills and become an expert researcher.

    Incorporate Appropriate Search Tools

    When browsing the web, you can either use search tools or select credible websites. There are various web portals to use for your tasks. Currently, the most popular search engines include Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Google owns the largest database and provides an extensive selection of results. Using Google Scholar, you can easily find academic articles which rarely appear on general search results.

    Getting the Most Out of Search Tools

    Finding a reliable search tool is just a small step in the research process. To ensure that your search engine gives rich results, here are some tips:

    • Be Specific

    To sift your search, try to be as specific as possible. For example, typing “rocking chair” will give more general information than typing “wooden rocking chair.”

    • Use Simple Words

    Using the simplest form of the keyword for your search yields better outcomes. Avoid adding prefixes or suffixes to your words. For example, use “luxury” instead of “luxurious.”

    • Take Your Time

    The results appearing first might not match your expectations quality-wise. It is better to take some time and skim through the bottom results or those on subsequent pages.

    • Incorporate Quotation Marks

    When you enclose a word with quotation marks, search engines can generate more specific results.

    • Omit Unnecessary Words

    By placing a minus sign before a word, you can find higher quality information as such words will not feature on your results page.

    Identify Your Research Topic

    When scouring the internet, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the numerous sources of data. Having a well-defined research topic is the first step to an effective research process. If you find it challenging to pick a topic, consider using https://essayservice.com/essay-topic-generator for interesting essay headlines. It is advisable to identify the main keywords to give direction to your search and avoid distractions. Experimenting with different keywords ensures access to detailed information specific to your headline.

    Use Reputable Sources

    There is a vast collection of online materials to use; some are factual, while many contain falsehoods. Using credible sources in your work helps build trust and strengthens your findings. Finding reputable sources involves identifying these sources and knowing how to evaluate them for possible bias. There are two main sources of research material: primary and secondary sources.

    Primary sources include interviews, speeches, case studies, clinical reports, autobiographies, and dissertations, while secondary sources present content from a different source, whose author may not have participated. They include publications such as journal articles, e-books, literature reviews, and bibliographies. Combining both primary and secondary sources is necessary for a balanced paper.

    Qualities of Reputable Sites

    Whether you opt for primary or secondary sources for your work, it is imperative to identify reputable sites for your online research. Here are some pointers to a site’s credibility:

    • Relevance

    Generally, content is relevant when the date of publishing does not exceed ten years. Older articles tend to have outdated information that may have been proven wrong by new studies.

    • Availability of Proof

    Various elements like charts and result findings go a long way to validate a source, as long as they are a true representation.

    • Author

    Established authors have a large following and a name to protect. They put a lot of work into their projects to provide credible information.

    • Origin

    You can determine a site’s reputation by identifying its origin. Government websites, denoted by .gov, are reliable resources for your research.

    • Purpose

    What purpose does the content serve? Is it promotional in nature, or is it educational? Anyone can create a website and share one-sided information with the public.

    • Target Audience

    Establishing the audience can help you identify a reliable source. For instance, scholarly articles published for academic audiences are the result of extensive research and are a reliable source.

    • Scope

    Reliable sources like books are comprehensive enough to guarantee credibility in comparison to magazine articles, which contain limited information.

    Prepare a Rough Draft

    Once you have gathered enough material to start working, it is always advisable to prepare a rough draft. Apart from ensuring your ideas flow seamlessly, a rough draft ensures that you do not omit vital points as you write. A draft needs brevity and clarity to avoid doing double work and disorganizing your ideas.

    Conclusion

    Developing research skills takes time and effort but goes a long way to ensure you deliver quality academic papers and earn good grades. By following these guidelines, it is just a matter of time for any student to move from average performance to an excellent one.

  • How to Avoid Unnecessary Stock Wastage?

    How to Avoid Unnecessary Stock Wastage?

    Running a successful business has numerous nuances. This challenge became all the more real when the COVID-19 pandemic led to a global lockdown. A few retailers had to battle the wrath of their customers because of a shortage of stock, while others experienced stock to waste. However, the challenge of preventing stock wastage is not something that is unheard of! No matter the scale of operations, it all boils down to effectively handling demand and supply. To achieve this, organizations must master the art of maintaining a healthy inventory.

    By a healthy inventory, we mean one where the demand and supply are in tandem, and there is no dearth of wastage of goods. However, it is not something that is as easy to achieve as it seems. That is because an organization has to take into account numerous factors to understand how they can avoid wastage of stock. Read on to find out how to avoid unnecessary stock wastage. 

    Reduce Lead Time

    Lead time is the duration between order placement and its delivery. While the ideal situation would have instant delivery, it is not practically possible. And that’s why organizations take a few days to deliver the goods and services. 

    However, you can significantly reduce this duration by maintaining an inventory that matches your demand and order levels. This would reduce the lead time and lead to instant revenue generation as you would not have to make your customer wait for longer periods as you are out of stock. 

    Maintain a Healthy Inventory 

    A healthy inventory is when you do not have a shortage or overflow of goods at your disposal. To achieve this, you need to control your inventory with effective inventory management. What is inventory management? How is it done? And why is it important?

    Inventory management is the three-step process when the seller sources the produced goods or raw material for sale. They then store and sell the goods based on the market demand. When a business establishment can rightly forecast the demand for the goods, they would have an effective inventory management system in place with the right amount of goods available at the right time. They can sell it at the right prices.

    Having an effective inventory management system would reduce the lead time and thereby building customer satisfaction.

    Use Technology

    There’s numerous predictive analytics software in the market which helps you with sales forecasting. Using these tools, you can determine the future sale’s outcome and track the stock in your warehouse. 

    When the inventory falls below a certain mark, you can program these tools to alert the person concerned to place additional orders. That way, you are not bearing excessive warehouse expenses for overstocking or leaving your customers disappointed with a huge wait time. 

    Have a Consignment Inventory

    A consignment inventory is when the supplier holds ownership of the goods until it is sold to the customers. This inventory method is ideal in online sales as the demand for goods and orders’ location could be uncertain. 

    It takes away the burden and expenditure of maintaining a stock from the retailer and shifts it to the manufacturer or supplier. As you would be paying for the consignment and the inventory only when the product is sold, the financial risk involved is minimal. 

    Have an Emergency Stock

    As the name suggests, this stock is not for immediate sale. Instead, it will come to your rescue on a rainy day when there is a sudden demand for your goods, delay in procuring fresh stock, and so on. However, remember that the emergency or reserve stock should be a small percentage of your entire stock. It might become a liability rather than an asset. 

    Stockouts and stock wastage are both nightmares to every operations manager. Only after several years of experience can you understand how to optimize the stock levels to match your business needs. However, until then, follow these steps to avoid any mistakes and unnecessary stock wastage.

  • Some Important Facts That You Need To Understand About Logo Designs

    Some Important Facts That You Need To Understand About Logo Designs

    The logo of your business or personal brand can be the most important component that defines your work and lets people know who you are and what you do. Whether you are an individual looking to make a strong digital impact or an entity trying to reach out to more people in your relevant audience, designing the perfect logo is the key to getting to your goals and standing out in the crowd. Anyone can try and get creative when designing a logo as it is not that complicated, however, there are some basics that you will need to follow to get the best results and make the biggest impact. 

    Be Unique

    When you are designing a logo, the main thing that you will need to keep in mind is that people like creativity. You should never just take the easy way out and copy someone else’s work or design a logo that can be confused for some other brand or entity. Instead, you should take some time to come up with a niche idea for a design that is inspired by what you do and what you want people to know about you so that you can be as unique as possible. Coming up with a unique design can make or break your identity, especially if you plan to use your logo online, where it should be shared amongst a huge number of people from all over the globe. 

    Try Different Kinds of Designs

    Coming up with a logo design is not something that you can do in a split second. You will need to take some time and have a whole trial and error process until you settle on the right kind of design for your brand. There are various types of logo designs for you to choose from, according to the message you want to convey and how you want people to learn about your brand. The most common kinds of logo designs include pictorial logos, which depends more on the graphics without any text, abstracts logos, which are more modern and creative, and mascot logos, which are usually easy to design as they are inspired by certain mascots known by the target audience you are trying to reach out to.  

    Consider your Colors

    The most important factors you will need to consider when designing a logo are the colors. It will all come down to what your brand is and what you want people to think once they see your logo… Try not to be afraid of using bold colors and getting out of the box to stand out in the crowd and make a great first impression with the people. The key is choosing a balanced palette where the colors complement one another in an attractive manner that is artistic and serves your goal. 

    Focus on Typography

    A pivotal part of any logo design is typography. Except for pictorial logos, all other designs need to have text in them to ensure people know what your brand is and you will need to put in some effort in coming up with the right words and the best font for your specific design. Make sure your typography matches the spirit of your brand or organization so that it does not confuse people or distract them from the real message you want to send out with your design. 

    Think of your Audience

    The main thing you will need to consider when designing any logo for any purpose is the audience you are targeting. When you are trying to choose any elements for your design or find the right words, put yourself in place of your target audience and see how they may feel about what you have created. This step will need some research in order to find out what the people want and how you can cater to their needs in order to make a larger impact. 

    Logos are considered the heart and soul of any brand or establishment. The best logos are usually the ones that look natural and effortless as well as memorable. However, coming up with a memorable design can be a challenging process. When you are trying to design a perfect logo, you will have to do extensive research to find out what your target audience wants to see and how you can reach out to them effortlessly. Make sure you experiment with different design ideas and try new and bold things that will make your brand unique and successful.