The Importance of Having The Best Packaging Solutions

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As a business owner, you only want the best for your company – from the production of your products to how it should be presented to the consumers. Now that online shopping is slowly taking over the consumer market, the demand for quality packaging is more popular than ever. Either you own a big or small business, you know why it is important to have the packaging that will provide what you and the customers need. If not, here are six reasons why you should seek the best packaging solutions provider.

It reflects your products and your company

Your packaging is more than just a box – it also manifests your company’s standards and principles. Having good quality packaging shows how you truly care not only for your items but also for your customers’ experience. For example, now that sustainability campaigns have become stronger than ever, you might want to provide packaging solutions that are either compostable or recyclable. This also gives a good impression, especially to customers who consider sustainability as a big deal. A logo in your packaging also helps to set you apart from other competitors.

It can influence the customer’s perception of your service

As we mentioned earlier, your packaging leaves an impression to the consumers. A packaging that is an experience in itself gives more satisfaction to whoever opens it. This helps in attracting more customers to patronize your products and in standing out from other rival companies. If you are trying to sell make-up or clothes, you might want to opt for a packaging design that is colourful and fun, graphics that can entice your target audience.

It holds valuable items.

This is probably the most important reason why you should invest in good packaging solutions: it holds your products. From your shop to the doorstep of the buyer, the packaging must be able to protect the items inside it. No matter how much the items’ monetary value is, you’ve worked your way in producing or curating these goods which means it cost you your blood, sweat, and tears. If your business involves fresh produce, you might need special packaging that is suitable for that and will protect your goods from elements that will contaminate it.

It helps in avoiding the products from getting damaged.

Your packaging will secure that your products will be delivered in perfect condition. Having a packaging solution that supports the safety of the items means that you’ll be able to avoid the influx of consumers’ demand for refunds and exchanges for damaged valuables. This will help in saving more money for your company and providing better customer service.

It has an impact on the flow of your production

Your packaging solutions provider will influence your flow of production. This is why you need to engage with a company that can assure you quality service that can keep up with your deadlines to avoid delays. At the same time, the look of your packaging will affect the appeal of your products and service as a whole.

How to Choose the Right Shower Tile for Your Bathroom

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At the end of a tiring day you have your own version of shower meditation in the bathroom to rinse of the chaos of the day. So, picking the right tile for your bathroom which complements your style is very important. There is a list of things to consider while picking the right tile. There are so many materials and designs, so it might be a bit overwhelming when you first get to it. Here are 6 easy steps to pick the right tile of your style. 

Contemplate Budget

Tiles come in all price ranges with strikingly beautiful styles, shapes and size. So, considering the budget first might be a good idea to avoid getting tangled in the way. Porcelain tile clay is denser than ceramic ones’ resulting in more costing of raw materials. So, generally porcelain tile is more expensive. But both the ceramic and porcelain tiles offer a large range of prices and designs. So, as you go up the ladder in price range both are pretty similar. With its uniqueness and scratch resistance natural stone tile is the most expensive of the bunch. 

Material: Ceramic vs. Porcelain vs Natural Stone 

The first thing to know about these materials is that porcelain and ceramic are not different kinds of tile. Porcelain is one of the varieties of ceramic with more purified clay. And for simplicity’s sake it is best to forget about the difference between the two and focus more on which fits your design theme best. 

 Still if you have unique requirements and need to contemplate the difference you might want to consider appearance, water resistance, durability and lifespan. Porcelain tile has a larger scale of designs as they can be designed to resemble different materials such as natural stone or wood grain. While most ceramic has only solid color and patterns. Porcelain has slightly better water resistance as well. Ceramic tiles come in both glazed and unglazed versions. So, for floor tile non glazed ceramic tile might be a better option, as it is less slippery. On the other hand, if you are going for a bit modernist bathroom design with a unique touch you may consider Natural stone as well. 

Choose Color and Theme

Firstly, you should think if you want a bold look or neutral look. You should consider the size of your bathroom and lighting before you pick the color palette. You can take multiple approaches to designing a theme. 

You can mix and match multiple tile patterns of the same color to create your own design. Though, we suggest not to go for more than three patterns in this case. Or you can go for a simple tile pattern with one exceptional showstopper. It’s best to consider your cabinets color first to match well with the tiles. 

Both, ceramic and porcelain have a large variety of designs. Natural stone tile gives the bathroom one of a kind look, as each stone is different. 

Consider Tile Size and Feel Appeal 

You might want to think of the size of the tile as it makes a huge difference in the appearance. Whereas smaller tile gives a more detailed look, bigger tile makes the space look bigger. So, if you have a smaller bathroom you might want to go for a bigger tile. Large scale tiles are the trend these days, but for bathroom floors you should consider small cut tiles for a more slip resistant shower. Mosaic tile is a great option for bathroom floors with its small size and more grout lines in the design. 

One important thing people often forget to consider is how the tile might feel. Whereas mosaic can be a great option for floor and wall, slab or large cut tile feels nicer on a shower bench to sit on.

Maintenance 

While designing a bathroom you must consider the maintenance. If you are looking for easy to clean and maintain, you should go for ceramic or porcelain. Natural stone tiles are porous (so holds on to dirt more) and requires more maintenance. Mosaic tiles with its grout designs can be difficult to clean as well. 

One more thing to consider is, Ceramic tile has plain white color on the inside whereas, porcelain tiles are of the same color inside out. So, if the tile gets even slightly chipped, in case of ceramic tile it is very visible. Porcelain is a better option in such cases.

Kids Bathroom 

While you might go for an elegant look with natural stone tile for your bathroom, you need to think differently if you are considering the kid’s bathroom. A colorful palette might be a better option for this case. Or, you can go for the light color tile with adding in pops of color with cabinets and accessories.  

Safety is a bigger issue in kids’ bathrooms. So, unglazed ceramic or mosaic patterns should be considered for the floor. Natural Stone might not be a good option for a kids’ bathroom as some stones are more prone to chip easily and need more maintenance.

How Project Management Software Can Improve Employee Effectiveness

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Article Summary: Build a lifetime of business using project management software to improve employee effectiveness. 

Let’s face it; employees are the very engines that drive companies to achieve greatness. Improving employee effectiveness is a significant step in accomplishing organizational goals.

Businesses in the past few decades have turned to technology to help in the overall production process. And as the nature of business dictates, there are always going to be monster projects with fast-approaching deadlines. 

Planning and execution of these projects are not easy by any means. About 77% of high performing projects use project management software. A project management software is what keeps such tasks from breaking down as it improves efficiency on just about all levels. 

But exactly how does it improve the efficiency of employees?

Opens Up Better Communication Lines

The hallmark of any successful project involves effective communication between team members.  For this reason, companies usually hire project managers with excellent communication skills. As a matter of fact, 68% of companies prefer outsourcing project managers and give them contracts depending on the duration of the project. 

However, good the project managers may be, the team still needs to communicate. This is where the project management software (PMS) comes in. A good PMS uses social media to capture all communication lines in one place. It also automates certain communication lines. Additionally, people get to update their progress for all the team members to see. 

PMS makes it easier to communicate with fellow employees in real-time.  As a result, it makes it easier to find real-time solutions to problems. Swift, easy, and reliable communication lines that are found in a PMS makes employees effective. 

Creates Division of Labour and Specialization

For a project to be deemed as successful, the project manager needs to delegate tasks to all the team members successfully. But what criteria would the project manager use to assign tasks to the members?

Project management software is designed to collect information from all people and store it for future reference. As a result, the software will help the project manager effectively allocate tasks based on this data. As a project manager using PMS, you’ll be able to find out the strengths and weaknesses of team members and assign tasks effectively. 

Leads to Effective Planning

As Kate Miller, a project manager and resume writer at the CraftResumes.com, which is one of the cheapest resume writing services out there, said: “The success of a project is heavily reliant on the project manager’s ability to plan effectively. On your own, planning could sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if the project is enormous. However, project management software makes your team more effective as you can plan way ahead of time.”

Project management software is equipped with tools to help you do just that. For instance, it helps employees with due dates and starts dates, industry reports, places to go, and many different ways of looking at a project. What this does is that it allows for the synchronization and automation of workflow processes among employees and team members. 

It is easier to monitor team workload, reports, and scheduled data just by using project management software. Additionally, task estimates are tracked not by estimated progress, but actual progress. The tracking of team members’ hours on a weekly or even monthly basis can lead to important insights regarding the efficiency of the team or employees. 

Verdict 

The bottom line is that project management software is transforming how projects are being done, and in the process, enhancing employee effectiveness in these projects. The software bolsters communication, planning, and task management, making employees better at their jobs. The complexity of projects, more specifically, the various tasks, demands the use of project management software. For employee efficiency, organizations should consider adopting such software.

Trump Visiting North Carolina Today To Declare Wilmington A ‘WWII Heritage City’

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President Trump will be landing in North Carolina today for the second time in 2 weeks to re-brand the historic city of Wilmington as his first ‘WWII Heritage City’.

Wilmington has been home to the Battleship North Carolina since 1962. The ship was active in the Pacific theater during World War II.

“During President Trump’s visit, he will meet with veterans, tour the Battleship North Carolina, and give remarks honoring the contributions of Wilmington to the U.S. victory in World War II,” said the White House in a statement. “In March 2019, President Trump signed legislation directing the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to designate at least one city per year as an American World War II Heritage City.”

The move is being seen by many as an attempt to reduce the significance of Wilmington’s 1898 racial massacre by highlighting its ties to WWII.

Wilmington has long been known as the location of the only coup d‘état ever to take place on American soil. The massacre took place in 1898 when a group of armed white supremacists murdered 60 residents and violently overthrew a duly elected government of black officials.

Men gather outside the charred remains of The Daily Record after the 1898 massacre. via LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

What do you think about re-branding Wilmington as a ‘WWII Heritage City’? 

Sustain Charlotte and Mecklenburg SW Announce Winners of Recycling Excellence Awards

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Live Nation’s PNC Music Pavilion of Charlotte and Nourish Charlotte earned 2020 Recycling Excellence awards for their innovative and inspiring waste reduction projects. 

Each year, Sustain Charlotte hosts an awards ceremony to celebrate the work that is being done in the community to advance smart growth and sustainability. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Sustain Charlotte to cancel the 2020 event. 

The organization’s partner, Mecklenburg County Solid Waste, co-sponsored a new award category this year, Recycling Excellence. This award aims to encourage organizations of all types and sizes to implement creative waste reduction projects that inspire the community, can be scaled up and strengthen the local economy. The judges received five impressive nominee projects and could not wait an entire year to publicly recognize who won the competition. 

There was a broad spectrum of nominees for this award that included individuals, non-profits, small businesses and large corporations. The submitted projects had vastly differing levels of resources and thus the outcome impacts differed greatly in scale. The judges had a very difficult time with the award scoring and final verdict. Ultimately, it was clear two projects stood out above the rest, and they both needed to receive acknowledgement. 

The decision was made to award both a large business, PNC Music Pavilion of Charlotte and small business, Nourish Charlotte 2020 Recycling Excellence Awards. 

Nourish Charlotte is Charlotte’s first plant-based, locally sourced, almost 100% organic, whole-foods based, healthy prepared-food delivery service. They deliver food 

weekly to hundreds of customers from Mooresville, North Carolina, to northern South Carolina. 

The small business uses a lot of packaged materials weekly! Over the past eight years, they have made huge strides to reduce waste, while also working to educate their customers to do the same. 

Through composting, reusing containers and recycling combined, they produce less refuse than 90% of kitchens nationwide (scaled to volume). Their events are also low or no waste. 

Nourish educates their customers and the larger community in several ways by: 

  • Including sustainability information in every order. 
  • Creating blog articles, social media posts and other content to educate the public on waste reduction, recycling and sustainability. 
  • Hosting in-person educational events for food vendors. 

The PNC Music Pavilion Charlotte became the first Live Nation venue to hit zero waste by diverting over 90% of their concert generated waste from the landfill and have maintained their title as the Live Nation venue with the highest diversion rate nationally. 

Zero waste stations are installed around the venue offering fans as well as food vendors an easy way to separate recycling, compost, and landfill trash. Water refill stations are located around the venue to encourage refilling water bottles, reducing the amount of plastic water bottles used. 

In 2018, the venue eliminated plastic straws, and serves food and beverages in recyclable or compostable containers. Through a partnership with Earth Farms, the venue composted nearly 97,000 lbs. of food scraps and organic material in 2019. Additionally, they recycled nearly 150,000 lbs., and donated nearly 2,400 lbs. of clothing through fan-supported on-site clothing drives. 

100% post-consumer recycled glass awards 

PNC Music Pavilion Zero Waste Station 

Sustain Charlotte is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization helping to advance a region-wide sustainability movement by serving as a catalyst for change. Our mission is to inspire choices that lead to healthy, equitable and vibrant communities across the Charlotte metro region for generations to come. sustaincharlotte.org 

Fort Mill’s Anne Springs Close Greenway Celebrating 25th Anniversary

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The Anne Springs Close Greenway recently announced its fourth annual “Love the Greenway Month” awareness and fundraising campaign during the month of September. Typically scheduled for April, this year’s festivities have gone virtual and will also highlight the nature preserve’s 25th anniversary year. Members and visitors alike can celebrate the Greenway in a socially distanced way and look for fun, new ways to Choose Your Own Adventure on the Greenway with self-guided activities, virtual demos, animal encounters, guided hikes, a video message from Greenway founder and namesake Anne Close and more planned for the month. The Greenway also unveiled its new annual roadside signage campaign, inspired this year by what members say they love most about the Greenway. Other campaign signage has been placed throughout the Greenway at popular points of interest as a part of virtual passport activities encouraging everyone to Get Your Selfie Outside® and enjoy the 2,100-acre nature preserve and recreational park located in Fort Mill, SC. 

This year’s campaign will not feature its signature family-oriented special events such as the Greenway’s annual Earth Day Celebration and other festivities. However, this year more than ever, the Greenway has proven itself to be an essential community resource, providing a space for people to recreate and celebrate nature in a myriad of ways from hiking and biking, to dog walking, horseback riding and picnics.   

Ways to Support the Greenway

The Anne Springs Close Greenway is a non-profit
501(c)(3) organization, which receives no tax dollars to improve, maintain or operate its facilities and programs. It is funded primarily by memberships, program fees and donations from individuals and corporations who support its mission “to connect people to nature through recreational and educational activities while fostering a passion for environmental conservation, animal habitat, and protection of natural resources.”


Become a Member
Join the Greenway and gain access to all the things that make the Anne Springs Close Greenway such a treasure. Celebrating its 25th year of connecting people to nature through education, recreation and conservation, the Greenway provides members with year-round access to 2,100 acres complete with 36 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Other Greenway amenities include the Greenway Gateway Welcome Center & Gateway Canteen, historic cabins, along with pastoral landscapes, lakes, swinging bridges and other facilities that make the Greenway a special place to visit.

Please visit the Greenway website for more information and directions. The Greenway is currently open to the general public Monday through Thursday and to Greenway members only Friday through Sunday in order to prevent overcrowding and encourage social distancing. 

Choose Your Own Adventure Passport & 25th Anniversary Hiking Challenge 

Check out the new Choose Your Own Adventure passport, pick up a Greenway Trail Passport and take the 25th Anniversary Hiking Challenge, enjoy one of many guided hikes, kayak programs and animal encounters, or just revel in the beauty of 2,100 acres of protected green space.

Get Your Selfie Outside® Photo Contest

Sponsored by the Anne Springs Close Greenway Photography Club, Greenway visitors are invited to share their best photos and win great prizes during the Get Your Selfie Outside® Photo Contest in September. Submissions may be emailed to Info@ASCGreenway.org or tagged on Facebook or Instagram, @ASCGreenway and #GetYourSelfieOutside. 

4 Things You Should Know Before Getting a Medical Marijuana Card

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Since all marijuana remains illegal under federal law, many people are still hesitant when it comes to applying for a medical marijuana card. Some of us grew up during a time when cannabis was stigmatized, and we still remember all the” War on Drugs” campaigns. But things have changed over the past decade, and nowadays, state governments are funding research on this plant’s medical benefits. 

As we’re writing this article, 33 states and D.C. have medical marijuana programs, and 11 of these states allow adult-use cannabis. The process of getting a medical marijuana card depends on where you live. There are some similarities, but some states are more lenient than others. If you’re thinking of getting a card, here are a few things you should know. 

What is a Medical Marijuana Card?

A medical marijuana card is a state-issued form of identification, which shows that you passed an evaluation to determine whether you have a qualifying medical condition, and you are legally allowed to purchase cannabis products in a dispensary in order to treat that condition. Non-patients without this card are often not allowed to enter the dispensary. 

What Are the Qualifying Medical Conditions?

This also depends on the state. Terminal illnesses and serious medical conditions tend to qualify patients for a card in any state, but it’s best to look up the list for your state. Keep in mind that you may have a condition that’s not on the list, but you might still qualify because many states authorize doctors to determine whether a patient’s medical condition would benefit from treatment with medical marijuana. 

Is Medical Marijuana Cheaper Than Recreational?

Again, this depends on the state, but medical marijuana is generally more affordable because taxes are lower. You also have to consider the quality of the product. The marijuana you can purchase from medical dispensaries is tested for impurities, unlike what you can find on the illicit market. 

This means that if you’re not from a state where recreational use of cannabis has been legalized, and you want to treat a medical condition such as chronic pain with marijuana, your safest option is getting a card. Let’s say you’re from Maryland, so you may be asking yourself: is weed is legal in Maryland? Your symptoms are affecting your quality of life, but you’re worried about relying on opioid medications. 

You look it up, and you find out that recreational use is illegal in Maryland, but, as of 2014, the possession of up to 10 grams has been decriminalized. Getting a medical card would still be a better solution because if you have to buy on the illicit market, you have no idea what THC content you’ll get, so you can’t calculate the dosage. Keep in mind that even if you’re from a state that allows recreational use, medical dispensaries are usually permitted to sell cannabis more suitable for treating medical conditions. 

You’ll Need to Renew Your Card

Many people believe that once they get their medical marijuana card, it’s valid for life. That’s not the case. You will have to renew it every year, so you’ll have to go through the same process, which includes getting a recommendation from your doctor. It’s important you don’t wait until the last moment because you’ll lose all the benefits of having an MMJ card on the day it expires. 

Why Charlotte is Overrun With Rats and What to Do if You Have Rodents?

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Rats are by no means a new occurrence in the life of most city dwellers. And although they’re typically getting a bad name undeservedly, a rat infestation can be unpleasant, to say the least. You might be particularly at risk if you live in Charlotte.

The city has been struggling with a serious rat problem in recent months, driving residents quite simply out of their minds. The main reason for this is that rats multiply notoriously fast. And with progressively warmer winters from year to year, the rodents are getting more and more chances to have more babies. What Charlotte is experiencing right now is quite simply a rat “baby boom” generation. 

And while that might sound cute, it’s not, especially if you’re a Charlotte homeowner. Since rats are infamous carriers of threatening pathogens and diseases, not to mention skilled home-wreckers, you will want to get your rodent infestation under control ASAP either through DIY methods or contacting a professional rodent removal service like orlandorats.com.

 

  • First of all, is it rats?

 

A lot of people don’t know the difference and wonder just what kind of rodent has infiltrated their home. Sure, it could be mice, but it’s most likely rats. Rats are more aggressive and have an elongated form, not to mention they’re bigger in size, so that may be a good tell-tale sign that you’re dealing with a rat invasion here. 

 

  • So what can you do?

 

If you’re suspecting a rat infestation inside your home, you need to take immediate action. The more time you give them, the more time they have to multiply, and thus infest your home further. Also, each day spent in close proximity to a rat is a threat to you, your family, and your beloved pets. While it’s a misconception that rats attack for no reason, they will still lash out viciously at you or your dog if they feel cornered. They may also prey upon newborns and incapacitated elderly people, on occasion.

Your best DIY bet for getting rid of rats in the home is a live trap. As the name suggests, this device will capture the rat with the use of bait (such as peanut butter), but it won’t kill it, thus allowing you to relocate it to a place where it can’t bother you or anyone else.

Alternatively, if you suspect multiple rats or just don’t feel capable of dealing with it, we suggest calling in a professional that will do the job for you. This is often the best idea if you’ve got a rat nest or family living on your property, as they can get rid of all rat remnants as well as advise you on how to prevent this from happening in the future.

Lastly, we do not encourage traps that kill the rat unless in extreme cases – this is both inhumane and unnecessary, especially since a live trap works just as well and is less messy/unpleasant. 

Remember, you don’t want to risk your safety or that of your loved ones, so take measures today! 

Governor Cooper Announces North Carolina Will Move To ‘Phase 2.5’ This Friday

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NC Governor Roy Cooper just announced that our state is about to transition into “Phase 2.5” this coming Friday at 5pm amid a continuing global pandemic.

“Safer at Home Phase 2.5 continues our state’s dimmer switch approach to easing some restrictions,” said Cooper. “We can do this safely only if we keep doing what we know works — wearing masks and social distancing. In fact, a new phase is exactly when we need to take this virus even more seriously.”

What “Phase 2.5” means for North Carolina residents is the following:

  • Mass gathering limits will increase to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors from the current limit of 10 indoors and 25 outdoors.
  • Playgrounds may open.
  • Museums and aquariums may open at 50% capacity.
  • Gyms and indoor exercise facilities, such as yoga studios, martial arts, and rock climbing, as well as skating rinks, bowling alleys, indoor basketball, volleyball etc., may open at 30% capacity.
  • Bars, nightclubs, movie theaters, indoor entertainment facilities, amusement parks, dance halls will remain closed.
  • Large venues remain subject to the mass gathering limits.

Read the Executive Order here.

Read the Secretarial Order here.

Read the Frequently Asked Questions here.

What do you think about the decision to move to ‘Phase 2.5’? 

Carolina Panthers Announce First Home Game Will Be Played Without Fans

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The Carolina Panthers have just announced that they will not be allowing live fans to watch the first home game of the season.

The Panther’s September 13th game against the Las Vegas Raiders will now be played without fans in the stands. The decision comes amid continued COVID-19 spread in our state and North Carolina’s Phase 2 guidelines remaining in place.


Here is the full letter:

To our fans –

Despite our best efforts, we are deeply disappointed to share that you will not be with us at Bank of America Stadium on Sept. 13 when we open the season against Las Vegas.

We will not allow an empty stadium to affect our performance on the field, but your presence gives us an undeniable edge.

We have worked tirelessly since March to develop and implement a responsible, comprehensive plan to ensure that your game day experience is enjoyable and as safe as possible. Based on the guidelines outlined in Phase 2 of North Carolina’s reopening plan, and our health and safety plan, we are confident that we can safely host a limited number of fans.

This is not a choice between a full stadium or an empty stadium. We have offered compromises and alternatives. We will continue reaching out to government officials regarding options for future games.

Safety measures we are prepared to implement include a face covering requirement and temperature checks for all fans and staff as well as enhanced cleaning procedures. We have also planned for and tested new ways for fans to enter and move safely around Bank of America Stadium.

Honeywell, a world leader in developing solutions for major venues and events, has customized PPE packs with our fans in mind and is deploying solutions to monitor air quality throughout the facility. In addition, infectious disease experts have shared scientific data to inform our decisions and fill critical gaps in mitigating the spread of the virus.

We recognize the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and will follow guidelines outlined by government and public health officials. And, we will continue to seek alternatives regarding the return of fans for the 2020 season and will share updates as appropriate.

We encourage you to stay safe, and we hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,

Your Carolina Panthers