Minggu, 18 Januari 2009

Inexpensive Wedding Gifts

A wedding present does not need to be costly to be well received and appreciated by the couple. Whilst the extravagance of some weddings may force their guests to get pricey gifts, it is not required that you do so.

While you may need to splurge on an excessive gift for a close chum or relative, you do not have to invest a great amount of money in a gift for an informal acquaintance. Even if you are very close to the couple, you could still get a cheaper present for their wedding.

One cheap gift idea is to fill a mixing bowl with a selection of kitchen utensils. This is both an inexpensive and a very helpful gift. Plenty of couples who are beginning their life together will need some basic utensils and kitchen gadgets to get them going. This gift is considerate and helpful without being detritus to your financial position.

Another cheap gift concept is to form a basket containing elements for a romantic dinner. You might put this basket together by yourself and include items such as dry pasta and sauce and a bottle of wine with wine glasses. You may also wish to include a non-perishable desert like biscotti to finish your meal.

You might even include a recipe card with one of your own personally tested recipes. This cheap gift idea will be significantly valued by the couple as it essentially giving them the gift of a romantic night alone.

Picture frames may also be an economical gift idea. You might also go to closeout stores for these items and you will find a few bargains available. Picture frames are a cheap and helpful wedding present concept that is probably going to be cherished by the couple.

The couple's registry may be another source of low-priced wedding present concepts. Plenty of couples will register for a collection of items that span a huge price range. By choosing an item from the registry and purchasing it as a gift, you will be presenting a gift that will be truly appreciated by the couple.

If you have video/photo footage of the couple, you might consider organizing these photos in a completely unique way in a photograph album to give to the couple as a gift. You might also use the photographs to make a scrapbook or maybe a video show set to music that features the couple. These gifts will be significantly appreciated by the couple and can be created for a comparatively tiny cost.

Newlyweds regularly incorporate candles in their decorating and also use candles to create ambiance during dinner or on other occasions. Candles are wedding gifts that are easy on the pocket. They come in a great variety of colours, sizes and smells so it should be simple to find a collection of candles that may be appreciated by the couple.

A marriage present does not need to be dear to be helpful and appreciated by the couple. Many expensive gifts are seldom used; whereas more economical yet useful gifts are used almost daily by the couple after the wedding ceremony.

Sabtu, 17 Januari 2009

How to Successfully Navigate Your Business through an Economic Downturn

by: Terry H Hill



An economic downturn is a phase of the business cycle in which the economy as a whole is in decline.This phase basically marks the end of the period of growth in the business cycle. Economic downturns are characterized by decreased levels of consumer purchases (especially of durable goods) and, subsequently, reduced levels of production by businesses.

While economic downturns are admittedly difficult, and are formidable obstacles to small businesses that are trying to survive and grow, an economic downturn can open up opportunities. A well-managed company can realize the opportunity to gain market share by taking customers away from their competitors. Resourceful entrepreneurs capture the available opportunities, from an economic downturn, by developing alternate methods of doing business that were never implemented during a prior growth period.

The challenge of successfully navigating your business through an economic downturn lies in the realignment of your business with current economic realities. Specifically, you, as the business owner, need to renew a focus on your core clients/customers, reduce your operating expenses, conserve cash, and manage more proactively, rather than reactively, is paramount.

Here are best practices that will help you to successfully navigate your business through an economic downturn:

Goals:

The primary goal of any business owner is to survive the current economic downturn and to develop a leaner, more cost-effective and more efficient operation. The secondary goal is to grow the business even during this current economic downturn.