Students Of Success

Most people would have a hard time selecting the best small software company in America. But if we asked Global Shop Solutions customers to vote, they would have no trouble identifying their top pick.

I recently had the great fortune of working with Global Shop Solutions in Houston. Their business works well on a lot of levels, but the most remarkable thing about the company is the tremendous value it creates for its customers.

Global Shop provides comprehensive EPR systems to small- and medium-sized manufacturers. It helps those manufacturers automate their entire business from the initial quoting of a project to cash collections and everything in between. The primary benefits to customers are increased productivity and profitability, along with improved customer deliveries. But most customers would say that Global Shop has taken their business from chaos to order and given them tight controls.

Global Shop has emerged as the market leader in its category by focusing with laser-like precision on delivering the basic value proposition of “best total solution.” In fact, it is executing the business strategy of customer intimacy as well as any company I have worked with. As a result, Global Shop now has more than 1,000 installed customers and has grown at a sustained annual rate in excess of 25% for the past several years.

Differentiation Through Training

When prospective customers build a short list of possible vendors in the ERP software space, they quickly see that Global Shop offers the best total solution. This makes a huge difference because the ERP space is littered with failed attempts and implementation failures. Automating every aspect of a manufacturing business is a daunting task, yet Global Shop enables companies to achieve success where most have failed in the past.

How does Global Shop offer a better solution?

For starters, the company’s training resources go far beyond the industry standard, and their customers know it. Not only does Global Shop excel at every point of touch, they also offer a variety of training options that allow customers to quickly build and maintain their software skills in a manner that fits each company’s unique needs.

Each week, the company holds training classes in Houston, where implementation teams immerse themselves in the requirements for successful implementation. Customers can send as many people as they want, as many times as they want — for free. Everything is included in the upfront cost of the software and the minimal annual licensing fee. The company also offers the best Web-based training in its category.

But what really differentiates Global Shop’s training is that many of their onsite training consultants are former customers who not only have a deep understanding of the software, they also intimately understand the inner workings of small manufacturers. They know the best practices of Global Shop’s diverse customer base, and can often make dozens of high impact, high leverage recommendations that lead to immediate improvements in the customer’s business.

Global Shop also has a unique way of keeping its software up-to-date. Every time the firm does a customization for a customer, that same customization is available to the entire customer base at the next upgrade — again at no extra cost. As a result, Global Shop customers know that every upgrade will contain the improvements they need to keep their ERP system at the cutting edge for the next 10 to 15 years.

Compelling Brand Personality

From a branding perspective, what impresses me most about Global Shop is its execution and presentation of its brand personality. A brand personality is the human characteristics we associate with a brand. It’s where we make the all-important emotional connection. It’s often the personality we identify with or the personality we aspire to. Global Shop’s execution of its brand personality would make most consumer brands envious, and it is proves critical in closing the sale.

Most of Global Shop’s customers think and act like small, owner-operated businesses, even those that have several hundred employees and an international customer base. Many are family owned businesses. These businesses typically operate under intense competition, with most feeling the pressure from offshore competitors. And despite their small size, these companies are complex operations that require heavy capital investment and expensive engineering talent and skilled labor on the shop floor.

I would characterize Global Shop’s brand personality as “sincere” because it presents itself as a financially strong, family owned business. Global Shop emphasizes the fact that it has been in business for three decades, and makes it very clear that it has no interest in selling out to a larger software company, as so many of its competitors have. Global Shop also makes customers aware that second-generation family members are being groomed to take over the company, and that all of the software code is developed inside the U.S. rather than offshore.

Global Shop has created a compelling brand personality that exerts a magnetic pull on potential and existing customers. Prospects and customers immediately conclude that Global Shop is “like me,” which leads to instant chemistry and a feeling of trust. One definition of trust is “the feeling of you being on my side.” Global Shop conveys this feeling from the moment you first meet them.

All of which adds up to a powerful software company with a powerful brand. I think their customers would certainly agree — Global Shop is the best small software company in the U.S.

Get your free whitepaper: The 10 Biggest Technology Marketing Mistakes… and How to Avoid Them

Rod Whitson serves Townsend as President and Chief Brand Strategist. Townsend is expert at helping organizations with innovative products and services develop differentiated, compelling value propositions. Townsend is the largest integrated marketing agency in Southern California. Rod has personally led recent branding engagements with Intel, BAE Systems, Merck, DowPharma, Marsh & McLennan, and the University of California system. He has also worked with a host of successful and not so successful early stage technology and life sciences companies. Since Townsend’s founding in 1993, it has helped clients create market valuation in excess of $80 billion.

Visit Rod’s blog, Branding the Complex

© 2006 Rod Whitson - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

How often you have used tools for your everyday living? The
advantage for having power tools, automotive tools or garden
tools in your house is really awesome. In an emergency
condition, you might need tools to repair your things. It’s
became better if you really know what should you do with it.

Why tools are so significant for you to have? Let’s check how
tools started to be used. Based on Britannica Encyclopedia, the
used of tools began perhaps a million years ago when man learned
to walk erect. His hands were then free to grasp objects of wood
and stone. He used these to kill animals for food, and they
became the first tools. The story of the development of tools is
the record of man’s slow, constant effort to help himself.

Great events in tool development took place when man became
dissatisfied. Currently you can find so many tremendous tools
which you never imagine before. All tools have vast advantage.
It’s really amazing how those tools helping people to do their
everyday life. You will be lured to own your set of tools too.

If so, here are some notes you may need to know:

• It’s important to do some research before you buy tools
because the equipment under each general and sub category has
many different applications and functions. You may find that
certain tools and equipment have multiple functions, so better
you buy one of them instead buying all. Thus, this will reduce
the amount of equipment you will have to buy and also save your
money.

• For garden tools, you have to be more prudent. You may know
that gardening is a favorite pastime for many and this activity
can be made more pleasurable through proper tools. . In the
garden, the better a tool works the easier the job. Using the
proper tool can cut down on time and effort. For gardeners,
tools are a matter of style, fit, and function.

• For power tools, there are certain familiarities. Power tools
can’t run without juice. For home improvement jobs in small
quarters or remote parts of the yard this can be a problem. So,
better you check on how to use power tools.

• The better a tool works, the less you’ll have to spend your
energy and effort to do your work. Maintenance your tools are
important. For your garden tools, tasks are easy to do and
typically are required only once a year. If the tasks are done
at end of the season, the tools are ready to use when the season
starts, and they are better protected from corrosion during
storage. Replace blades or sharpen tools that cut or dig,
lubricate moving parts and oil materials that tend to dry out.
When a repair is not a safe option, replace the broken parts.
Don’t attempt, for example, to glue or tape a broken wooden
handle; replace it.

Those notes above probably will help you a little bit before you
buy tools. The problem now, how can you find cheap tools with
high quality? As you may know, high quality tools are quite
expensive, as they are designed to be long-term investments.
Well, if you are facing that situation, better for you to wait
for a clearance tools sale at a major wholesale distributor.
Wholesalers typically have the best prices to begin with, so
when you catch that rare sale, you can be assured that there is
no better price out there.

Well, you need to do some searching though, but it’s worth it if
you really want to have good tools collection. Start searching
now, good luck!

Do you know what your credit card is truly costing you? Many
people assume that they do, but aren’t familiar with the
hidden fees that many credit card companies are charging. In
fact, if you don’t keep close tabs on your credit card, you
may end up paying hundreds of extra dollars per yearwithout
ever really knowing it!

And if you’re trying to budget your money, those hidden fees
can add up!

Let’s take a look at some of the most common credit card
fees, and then talk about how you can avoid them.

Grace Periods

In the past, we could always count on grace periods before we
ever had to start paying interest. For example, if we
charged our card to the limit, and could get it paid off
before the grace period expired, then it would be like a free
loanwe wouldn’t have to pay any interest.

Unfortunately, the credit card companies are making this
harder and harder to do. For starters, many of them have
reduced the traditional 30 day grace period to 20-25 days.

If you hold a credit card, but didn’t realize this, then
you’re likely paying interest without even knowing it!
What’s worse is that more and more credit card companies are
eliminating grace periods altogether. That means if you
charged lunch today at noon, at 12:01 pm, you would be
already paying interest on it.

How about your credit card? You need to take a close look at
the fine print and find out what kind of grace period you
have. If your credit card company has reduced it
significantly, or eliminated it altogether, you should
seriously consider canceling it and getting a more
user-friendly card.

Late Fees

When is the last time you checked to see what amount your
credit card company charges you for a late fee? The truth is
that these fees have doubled in just the past ten years, and
that, combined with the reduced grace period, means that the
credit card companies are raking in a lot of dough on late
fees!

If it’s possible, you should try and send off the check (or
electronic transfer) the day that you receive your credit
card bill. There are three reasons why it’s important never
to be late. The first is obvious; you will want to do
everything in your power to avoid a hefty late fee. Next, if
you are late, it will likely be reported to the credit agency
and you will have a bad mark on your credit report. The
third is the direst, and we’ll discuss it below.

Interest Rate Hikes

Did you know that if you are late–even one timeon your
credit card payment, the company will in all likelihood raise
your interest rates? That’s right; one late payment gives
them the right to do it. What’s more, that isn’t just
limited to your credit card payment. Any late payments from
any lender that show up on your credit report gives them the
justification to raise your rates, so be careful!

Copyright (c)2005 by Michael Ambrosio. You may publish this
article on your site or in your newsletter provided this
resource box remains in tact. Michael Ambrosio is the author
of many credit related articles. Visit his website today:
http://www.yourcreditandyou.com and rebuild your credit.

Since the early part of the 20th century lighting designers have
created lamps and fixtures to captivate our senses. Much like
the tranquility one feels staring at a warming fire or the
excitement one feels staring at the spectacle of a lightening
storm, accent lamps - those with colorful stained glass
patterns, mythical figures, pastoral scenes or action, evoke our
emotions.

While illumination is a function of lighting, many of the lamps
of the sensory ilk, including lava lamps of the 50’s and 60’s,
and animated action lamps of the 20’s and again in the 1950’s,
favor more the sense of accent, entertainment and decoration
than the practical function of task lighting.

Static yet colorful stained glass lighting appeals as eye candy.
Beautiful patterns of Wisteria, Iris, and nature captivate,
whether lit or not. Not much has changed since pioneer Louis
Comfort Tiffany introduced his first stained glass art lamps
more than 100 years ago. Vintage original Tiffany fixtures can
be bought for more than the cost of a down payment for a San
Francisco home. (see:
http://www.chandeliers-and-home-lighting.com/tiffany-chandelier.h
tm )

Motion lamps, like the animated lamps of the 1920’s, feature
popular scenes such as water cascading over Niagra Falls or
flames burning around a log. It’s no wonder why advertisers
sought to reintroduce action lamps again in the 1950’s. In the
50’s these moving lamps were brought back to life featuring Cole
Swimwear models or popular snacks and drinks such as popcorn or
coke and would rest upon the counter of a bar for all to enjoy!

Lava lamps also captured our fascination with colorful lighting
and movement. Today, these, and the above mentioned vintage
lamps, continue to be popular. Collectors may seek higher valued
originals, whereas the homeowner may be just as happy with a
modern day reproduction. Adding to the feel of a place, these
kinds of fixtures are here to stay!

Volvo Cars is the brand under which the Volvo S40 is running under. The Volvo S40 is a sedan and it is a compact car. This vehicle actually filled the spot and niche that the Volvo 440 left behind when its production was halted. Going back to its history, automobile aficionados could definitely say that there has already been two distinct and different models for this vehicle line. The first generation was actually launched back in the year 1995. As per the second generation, they have been launched just recently, in the year 2004. At present, this second generation of Volvo S40s are still being continuously manufactured, marketed, and sold to the general public. It has been said that its main and primary competition in the market are the Acura TSX, the Audi A3, the BMW 2 series, as well as the Infiniti G20.

If you do have some $24,040 for a vehicle, then you can most certainly own the Volvo S40. Volvo markets this vehicle as an attainable sports sedan which not only delivers power and has a good handling, but it also provides its drivers and passengers fun every time it is driven. As per the color of the exterior of the Volvo S40, the choices are Black, Ice White, Passion Red, Silver Metallic, Flint Gray Metallic, Barents Blue Metallic, Brilliant Blue Metallic, and Electric Silver Metallic.

The Volvo S40 parts has been made available with various features so as to provide not only a superb driving and riding experience but also to give its passengers a comfortable and entertaining one as well. The list of features that this vehicle hold include the Stability and Traction Control system, daytime running lights with projector type low beams, rear fog lights with auto off, headlight washers, bi-xenon headlamps, a collapsible steering column, energy absorbing interior, driver and front passenger supplemental restraint system, inflatable side curtains, an overhead-mounted seat belt reminder lights, padded head restraints, a security system, a safe approach and home safe lighting system, an emergency trunk release, a cruise control system, a trip computer, and an outside temperature gauge among many others.

Volvo has also made sure that Volvo S40 owners and interested parties could have choices with regards to sprucing up the vehicle and this is the very why the company has created a line of Volvo S40 accessories to not only provide customization and personalization but also add to its functionality and also its aesthetic features.

Volvo Parts and Used Volvo Parts

Volvo S40 parts

——

As a former news correspondents for an auto-related websites, Kevin has gathered extensive knowledge and experience in the automotive industry. This 34 year old father of three from Pennsylvania is a genuine car lover.

If you’re in the market for a new cellphone, now is a great time
to go shopping. Cellular carriers and resellers are constantly
offering special offers. Some companies offer free cellphones
(after rebates), calling plans with thousands of minutes, etc.

With all these ads, where do you start? You can go to a local
wireless store and see the latest makes and models. You can also
research a variety of cellphones on the Internet. If you go to a
wireless store, be prepared to spend some time, energy, and gas.

If you want to shop from home or the office, and avoid any sales
hassles, you can shop for a new cellphone on the Internet.
You’ll save time, money, and gas, and possibly get a better deal
on a new cellphone.

Three factors will determine how much you will pay for a new
cellphone: 1.) PRICE, 2.) FEATURES, and 3.) CALLING PLAN.

If you’re on a tight budget and don’t want to pay anything up
front for a cellphone, look for cellphone offers with instant
rebates. The instant rebate amount is deducted from the
cellphone’s purchase price when you order.

If the cellphone you want costs some money up front, look for
cellphone offers with mail-in rebates. You’ll pay the purchase
price of the cellphone when you order, and receive a mail-in
rebate coupon.

Some cellphone offers promote rebates as much as $100.00 or
more. Mail-in rebate checks can take several weeks to arrive,
and they’re great if you don’t mind waiting for them. If and
when you get a rebate check, it’s like getting cash back. For
example, if your cellphone’s purchase price was $100.00, and you
receive a $100.00 rebate check, your cost after the rebate is
zero.

Cellphones with few features cost less than cellphones with
advanced features. If you just want to make calls, you don’t
need a cellphone with advanced features. If you’re going to take
pictures, download videos, music, and e-mails, you’ll need a
high-end model with advanced features like a QWERTY keyboard,
camera, large video display, MP3 player, and more.

The last and most important factor is the calling plan. Plans
differ from carrier to carrier and you have to decide which plan
is best for you. Think how you will be using the phone regularly
before choosing a plan. You should estimate how many minutes you
will use each day during peak hours, which are typically from
6am-9pm, Monday to Friday. For example, if you can limit your
talk time to 30 minutes a day, that comes out to approximately
600 minutes per month.

To get the best deal, look for a plan with the lowest monthly
rate and the most minutes per month. Get a plan with more
minutes than you’ll need to avoid costly overage charges.
Monthly rates of some plans offering the same number of minutes
per month could vary. Make sure to look for a plan that offers
free long distance, weeknight, and weekend calls. This plan
allows you to talk nationwide for a long time at night and on
weekends.

If your relatives, friends, and co-workers use the same carrier,
you might want to select that carrier. Some carriers offer
unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling to other people on the same
network or other money-saving features for free or a flat fee.

Some plans don’t offer certain cellphone models, and not all
plans are available in all areas. If the plan you choose doesn’t
offer the cellphone model you want, search for other cellphones
that are offered by the plan. The cellphone you want may be
offered by another plan from the same carrier or by a plan from
a different carrier.

Great cellphone deals are out there, if you take the time and
effort to look for them.

Pick up any newspaper or watch any news channel and many times you will find something about the airline industry. Popular topics range in how gas prices affect airline prices, the latest merger or bankruptcy claim, an airline crash or problem with a flight and even terrorist attempts. Airlines even capture our attention by running airfare specials in the newspaper and on TV. The funny thing is, you don’t even pay attention to these advertisements unless you travel often or are planning a trip. So which airline is the best anyway?

There are a lot of things to take into consideration when deciding which airline is the best for you. Price is usually a big factor for most travelers. There are a few things to consider when thinking about price. If you live near a hub for an airline you are certain to be able to get better fares. Think about if it is worth it for you to travel to a larger airport rather than taking a flight out of the airport that you live 10 minutes away from. If you are only saving about $50.00 it is probably better to just take a flight from the airport you live closest to. Remember, you need to think of gas prices and traffic - both of which are on the rise.

Consider being flexible in your travel days to receive the best prices. If you can leave mid-week, then you are more likely to receive a better deal than if you were to fly Thursday - Sunday. These are the busiest travel days so the airlines take full advantage of this fact. Airlines also run special deals if you are more flexible with your departure schedule. This includes the time that you want to leave too. Early morning flights - very early morning flights - are often less expensive than mid-morning or evening flights. Think about rush hour traffic. If you leave before rush hour in the morning, or after rush hour in the evening you’ll most likely land a better deal.

The best time to book your own flight online is Tuesday evenings between 12 and 1 a.m. Airline’s computers change their fares at this point and this is when they are available to the public to be purchased. If you catch an airline just right, then anyone of them can be the “best” when it comes to pricing. There isn’t any one airline that consistently has the best prices. Although, the discount airlines like Air Tran and Jet Blue tend to be cheaper. But these flights are only available in select areas so many times you cannot fly these airlines.

Another factor to look at when deciding which airline is the best is the percent of flights that they have on time. These are the results of one survey that was conducted:

Hawaiian Air
Jet Blue
Southwest
ATA
United
Sometimes it’s better to drive than to be stuck on a flight that is delayed. Consider this on shorter distance flights.

Carry on luggage has become more popular with travelers because nobody wants to be caught without their clothes and people want to get off a flight and go - not wait around for their bag to come round the corner of the luggage carousel. This is how airlines ranked for lost baggage:

1) Hawaiian Air

2) Jet Blue

3) Southwest

4) Alaska Air

5) Continental

It’s also pretty frustrating when you have booked a flight and you aren’t allowed to get on it because someone overbooked the flight. How does that happen anyway? Here’s how the airlines ranked on passengers that were denied boarding:

Jet Blue
Hawaiian Air
United
American Airlines
US Airways
So which airline is the best? Everyone is going to have their personal opinions. But according to this, you should book a trip to Hawaii right away or else fly Jet Blue whenever possible.

Find more information about airlines, quotes, last minute booking and more at www.airlineb.com

Webster’s dictionary defines stress as: “a physical, chemical,
or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may
be a factor in disease causation”.

It’s important to realize that this “physical, chemical, or
emotional” tension is a part of life, and is essential to the
workings of the human body.

Stress occurs whenever we encounter something in our lives to
which we must react. This may be a small event, like swatting at
a fly that has landed on our arm, or something more significant,
like dealing with the death of a loved one.

When we run into stress, our body reacts by producing adrenaline
and cortisol. These hormones do good things for our body:
cortisol by improving our memory, and adrenaline by enhancing
our immune system and supplying us with energy. It’s when we
allow this stress to remain with us for extended periods of time
that bad things begin happening. When cortisone builds up it can
actually cause our brain cells to shrink and hinder our short
term memory. Unused adrenaline can eventually lower our immune
system and cause depression.

The healthy way to deal with stress is to allow it to take its
course the way nature intended. The adrenaline that your body
produces needs to be used-up, and the best way to do this is by
exercising. These hormones are meant to help out with short term
situations, so we need to find stress reducing activities to
deal with ongoing stress (like work or finances). Some ideal
relaxation and stress-reduction activities are yoga, tai-chi,
and meditation.

Stop Your Readers In Their Tracks!
Copyright 2003 Livvie Matthews

Studies have shown that while 75% of the people read
headlines, only 25 % keep reading “the rest of the story”.
Breaking it down even further, you have about 4 seconds
to convince that reader to read on!

When writing, the two most important elements are your
headline and your opening statement. These two
elements must stop your readers in their tracks!

Headlines must grab your readers attention. Just as you
only get one chance to make a good first impression, you
only get once chance to grab your reader’s attention!

For example, when you read an ad, you don’t read it just
to be reading, you read it because you are interested
in it. Something about it grabbed your attention.

Since your information will be read only by interested people,
the purpose of your headline is to pick out those who are, or
can be, specifically interested in what you are talking about.

You want to grab their attention and if you can create curiosity,
that’s even better. Curiosity your reader can only satisfy by
reading your information! People are so hurried and they
are not going to give you their time unless you make it
worth their while.

Make your headlines draw your readers interests. Emotions
motivate and sell. Use words that invoke emotions and that
clearly describe the benefit to the reader in terms of action!
Reinforce major benefits and points. Your headlines should
either conceal an interest or reveal an interest.

Spend time learning to use power words. These words
are known to trigger emotions and bring about desired
results. Power, appearance and greed, are all powerful
motivators. Also consider basic human motivators such
as physical, safety, social and esteem.

Power Words would include:
Dynamics, Money, Sure-fire, Innovative, Specialized,
Bonanza, New, Breakthrough, Soar, Affordable, Effective,
Savvy, Crucial, Rewards, Harness, Unleash and the most
powerful word of all….Free. These words make it difficult
for your reader to just pass by.

One, two and three word headlines are the most powerful.
Smile! Got Milk? Just Do It! These are examples of
one, two and three word headlines that have been powerful
attention getters plus, made a dollar or two.

People do not read ads for amusement or to be entertained.
They read ads because they have an interest. Their “hot buttons”
have been pressed.

If you are writing advertisements, this is the one time you
are not trying to build a relationship with your reader. You
are selling a product, service or information and if your
ad doesn’t get their attention, you won’t make a sale,
it’s that simple!

I spend more time on creating the headlines for my articles
than I do the articles themselves. Because without the right
headline, viewers probably are not going to read the information
contained in the article.

Don’t misunderstand here, your content must be of quality
and of interest to the reader, but if your don’t pique your
readers interest in the headline, you most likely will have
lost your reader.

Readers will decide at a glance — by your headline
or your opening statement–if your information interests them.
Address the people you seek and them only by…..
Stopping Them In Their Tracks!

About the Author

Livvie Matthews, Internet business specialist, author and
consultant, helps people interested in creating information
products, niche marketing and building relationships while
building their business! Market Your Goldmine!
http://www.simplebizpublications.com List of other articles
of interest mailto:articles-simplebiz@getresponse.com
Subscribe: mailto:subscribe@simplebizpublications.com

The first parachute jump in history is a bit debatable. While many seem to think that an extreme sport like parachuting has its roots in recent history, it has, in fact, been around for centuries.

In 852 A.D., Arman Firman, a Muslim holy man, jumped from a tower in Cordoba, Spain. At the time, he was wearing a billowy, large cloak. While in theory this should have slowed him down and allowed him to float gently to the earth (he also believed this to be true), it did little to help his jump. He crashed to the earth at a frightening speed, but lived to tell the tale of the first parachute jump.

A cloak, however, is not a true parachute. Most give credit to Leonardo Da Vinci for creating the first designs of parachutes. Da Vinci spent years studying birds. He truly believed human flight was possible. He, therefore, spent an extensive amount of time trying to create a vehicle that might help man fly. While Da Vinci never tried any of his ideas, he left behind sketches and instructional texts dealing with the first parachute jump.

Over the course of the next few hundred years, others tried to create the first parachute jump, but none succeeded. All were unrecorded events. Andre Jacques Garnerin, in 1797, jumped from a hot air balloon with a chute made of silk. It looked as if he were following Da Vinci’s designs. The first parachute jump was a success, but there was little use for the parachute. It was considered only for show.

However, with the creation of airplanes, parachutes became more useful vehicles. By World War II, they were standard issue equipment for pilots as life saving devices. Today, hundreds of people make their first parachute jump each day. Parachuting has become an extreme sport of magnificent popularity. First timers take several hours of training to complete the first parachute jump. They are trained in everything they need to know to make the jump safe including what equipment is used during a jump, how to leave the plane they’ll be jumping from, how to us a reserve chute in case the first doesn’t open, and how to land.Historically, the first parachute jump is in question, but thousands make their first parachute jump each year.

John Ewing is the author and editor of many reviews published at parachuting guide, an online magazine with information on skydiving, including equipment such as clothes and powered parachutes. Ewing used to add interesting skydiving equipment articles and powered parachutes reviews.