Business : Testing, Certification & Business Tools News

Why Does Buying a House take So Long?

Most house selling experts estimate that selling a house should only take three months. But does this take into account the time taken to get your dream home? Others unexpected delays include hurdles of the mortgage application, survey complications, among others. Also, the revenue authority has given a temporary reduction

Read More »

Startup property firm tips

Building a property firm from scratch is going to take all of your energy. Property isn’t easy. Every property is big and cumbersome and they all want to fail on you. Every single last constituent piece of property – from the windows to the door handles – is constructed from

Read More »

PAGABO AND SYPRO GAIN ISO 9001 AND ISO 27001 CERTIFICATION

FOLLOWING an assessment process that has taken just over 12 months, Hull-based companies Pagabo and Sypro have announced that the two organisations have successfully become ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified. ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised Quality Management System (QMS) standard that can be accredited to any size organisation.

Read More »

Five Benefits of Buying Used Items for Your Business

There’s no denying that buying new comes with plenty of benefits. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for your business. There are plenty of benefits of buying used too! Whether you are interested in equipment restoration and want to know exactly how to restore items on your own,

Read More »

5 Marketing Trends In The Construction Industry

If you want your construction business to stand out from its competitors, consider making a shift to digital marketing. For several years, online marketing campaigns are on a steady rise. And for a good reason, digital marketing provides leverage to small businesses and startups but at lower costs.   Whether you’re

Read More »

5 Tips to Choose the Best UX Design Agency for Startup

The business value of design is on the rise in the customer-centric age. Regardless of market share or industry, user experience (UX) design is becoming a major competitive differentiator, as customers are more likely to switch brands or leave purchases unfinished if they don’t enjoy an online or in-app experience. 

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7 Essential Areas of Maintenance for Businesses

If you have a commercial property or multiple residential units, you are definitely going to spend a significant amount of money on the upkeep and maintenance of your property. Similarly, whether you have a startup or a large-scale corporation, maintenance is one of the most critical aspects of your business.

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Kite Packaging have brought to market their new range of reusable, recyclable and biodegradable shredded paper

The employee-owned business has recently added a wide range of innovative solutions to their ecommerce offering providing customers with sustainable alternatives, their latest one being shredded paper. Kite’s reusable, recyclable and biodegradable FSC and PEFC certified shredded paper is the perfect sustainable void fill solution for not only protecting items

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Latest Issue
Issue 337 : Feb 2026

Business : Testing, Certification & Business Tools News

Why Does Buying a House take So Long?

Most house selling experts estimate that selling a house should only take three months. But does this take into account the time taken to get your dream home? Others unexpected delays include hurdles of the mortgage application, survey complications, among others. Also, the revenue authority has given a temporary reduction on stamp duty, making eager buyers try to move before the deadline. This is expected to course further delays before you get keys to your dream home. Here you will learn the process of buying a house and what you can do to speed up the process. Please continue reading to learn more. 1. Start By Finding your Dream Home This is one of the complicated stages of owning a new home. Generally, most people take 8-12 weeks to locate their new homes, depending on the type of property that you need. The timescale also depends on your search area and the local property market. To avoid this delay, you can seek the services of chartered surveyors, conveyancers, or local estate agents. They have details of different home categories and where to find them, and therefore they will be able to fix you with your dream home quickly. 2. Make The Offer Some people experience difficulties before agreeing on the best price of the house with the house vendor. In most cases, other buyers are also interested in the same house, and therefore, the buyer takes long before deciding the preferred buyer. Always ask the vendor to offer the best price to avoid hurdles. This way, you can quickly move to the house that you can afford. 3. Get A Mortgage Very few people complete the process of owning a home without getting a mortgage. What can I do to speed up the process of getting a mortgage? Simple! Get the paperwork done before starting the house searching process. Yes, it is possible since you already know the price of the house you need. You can browse online to see different mortgage lenders and their calculators. You can consult the services of a mortgage broker if you are dealing with a complex purchase. However, it is better to wait until you settle for a certain house before applying for a mortgage principle since it will be valid for only six months. If you miss the six-month timeframe, you will get a credit check which will significantly affect your credit score. You will be surprised that your mortgage application will not go past 40 days if you have a good credit rating. 4. Exchange Contracts You need to get information about your vendor and the property you want to purchase before exchanging any contracts. Your conveyancer, together with your vendor’s conveyancer, should initiate the process by conducting local searches and seeking information from relevant authorities such as local councils, Land Registry, and other external parties. If you do not get any complications, the process will not take more than four weeks. To speed up the process, answer all the queries asked promptly and provide as much information as possible. 5. Complete the Sale It is the final stage of buying a property. By now, you have already paid the property deposit, exchange of contracts cost, and any other necessary cost. Thus, this stage involves paying the remaining property fee and any other outstanding fees. However, the process can be affected by the vendor’s timescale and if they are able to move out quickly. You will have to wait longer if there are chin of vendors. In normal cases, this process takes between one to four weeks. You can do everything correctly, but you won’t have an easy transition if you fail in planning. Thus, get the best removal company to assist you in moving before completing the buying process. Thus, you will save time and money. Also, the removal company will assist in moving delicate stuff that you might end up destroying if you move on your own. Don’t wait until the last minute since the best removal companies usually get booked in advance. If you wait until the last minute, you may end up with a company that might end up doing a shoddy job. If you follow the above steps, you will end up getting your dream home quickly. However, if it takes longer to sell a house in your location, you will get delays in owning one. This is particularly if you want to sell your house to get your dream house. You have to wait to get a buyer in order to buy another property. It is therefore important to contact an agent to help in the selling and buying of property. You will save both money and time. But never plan to move without allowing yourself plenty of time.

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Startup property firm tips

Building a property firm from scratch is going to take all of your energy. Property isn’t easy. Every property is big and cumbersome and they all want to fail on you. Every single last constituent piece of property – from the windows to the door handles – is constructed from materials that will serve a purpose for an amount of time before they will need to be replaced. As nice as it would be to replace everything at once and know that your renovations are complete for a decade, it doesn’t work like that. Things fail at different times, and your property business must be awake to the very real issues, lest your company will fail as fast as you started it. Starting a company can in itself be stormy waters, regardless of the industry. For example, if you don’t keep track of your outgoings by using expense tracking software, you could find yourself unable to survive year one simply due to poor expenses management.  Let’s look at what else you need to cover. Stick to what you know Buying property is fraught with hidden woes. Not to boggle your mind, but issues with plumbing, electrics, subsidence, and dampness can all ruin your plans. Then there’s the issue of how local developments could affect property prices. Your homework is never complete when it comes to property ownership. In short, stick to what you know. If you have knowledge of owning and renting out medical properties, keep doing that (at least for now). If you suddenly switch and decide to expand into properties befitting the leisure and tourism industries, for example, you will soon find that you are out of your depth. Property is much easier to conquer when you level the playing field with an in-depth knowledge of maintenance in relation to the building’s purpose. Invest as a group Group investments aren’t for everybody. Some people want to take all of the glory. And that is fair enough. Your property startup is your baby, and you have to do what you think is best. If sharing the decision-making element of property ownership isn’t something you can abide by, group investments are a non-starter. However, never say never. Group investments can minimise risk and bring in expert knowledge. You can put very little money down, learn from others, and still benefit from a revenue stream. Now, that doesn’t sound too bad, does it? Especially for a startup brand that is eager to learn the trade and minimise any losses. Patience – learn to spot value and act fast When you bought your first house (assuming you are a homeowner), you probably fell into the same trap as everyone else when viewing properties. Which is to say, you shopped around for too long without really knowing what you were doing, only to eventually find out your first-choice house was snapped up by someone else. The property business is brutally fast and fair – whoever puts the money down first and signs the contracts will get what they paid for. Make sure you learn to ask the right questions and don’t be afraid to act when the chips fall in your favour.

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How to Choose Architect Designers for a New Project: 3 Tips

Choosing an architect designer is about the same as choosing a doctor. You will spend more than one month together (or even a couple of years if the object is large and not urgent), the designer learns a lot of facts about you, including very personal ones (from who you work to, and ending with how you sleep and take bathroom), and he will also be aware of your financial affairs. Therefore, it is so important to find not just a professional architect designer, but your person with whom you will be comfortable working and communicating. Where to Begin Therefore, before looking for an architect designer, leaf through magazines on interior themes, take a look at Pinterest, or at least search Google and save your favorite options in a separate folder. According to Building Guide, this step will help you understand what style of interior you prefer to see in your apartment in principle: minimalism, classics, hi-tech, Scandinavia, pop art, boho, or some other. This, in turn, will help narrow down your search for the right designer. After all, good designers tend to like to work within multiple styles. And those who perfectly succeed in, say, minimalism, may not be so good at creating an interior design in the Art Nouveau or Art Nouveau style. Determine the Budget Before you start looking for a designer, it is advisable to understand how much money you are willing to spend on paying for his services. Of course, the range of prices for interior design services on the market is great: you can order a design project from the “draw and sell” series for a fixed cost of “$ 99 per project”, or you can invest in developing the appearance of a future apartment for almost all the money of the world. But if we operate with averaged figures, then, in general, the development of a design in a basic format (stylistics, selection of colors, a set of drawings and explications) will cost about $500-600 per square meter, depending on the renown of the designer. A more complete package, including a plan of floors, ceilings, and walls with a layout of materials, will cost about $700-1000 per square meter, and if you ask the designer to also indicate the specification of finishing materials and equipment (model, article, store, cost), then the project will cost at least $1000-1500 per sq.m. A separate line will go to “field supervision” – this is when the architect-designer periodically visits the object and controls the correctness of the implementation of the project. The cost of such a service can be calculated based on the area of the premises, the finishing of which is to be “supervised.” Moreover, such prices may include infrastructure solutions. For a general understanding of the order of expenses for paying for the services of a designer, you can use the following proportion: 8-15% of the cost of repairs, which, in turn, make up about 20-30% of the cost of an apartment in a new building. That is, if your apartment is conventionally worth $ 50 thousand, then you can safely pledge at least $ 10 thousand for its renovation, and at least $ 1,000 for designer services. At the same time, a professional architect designer could help save budget on construction projects. Explore the Portfolio Specialists with a small portfolio have much less development experience. Besides, they do not have a large team, thanks to which any project can be done in the shortest possible time. Now let’s talk about how to choose an architect-designer designer using a portfolio. First of all, it is important to look not only at the quantity but also at the types of projects that the specialist does most often. So, if the portfolio is dominated by the interiors of cafes, fitness centers, and beauty salons, then the designer specializes in the development of public projects. If the portfolio contains many more residential buildings and apartments, then he is an expert in this particular area. There are situations when a designer’s portfolio is approximately equally filled with different types of interiors. This suggests that a person is open to everything and has a lot of experience and talent. It is better to choose either him or a specialist in the field of residential development. The best way to find a needed specialist is to appeal to architectural design companies & solutions at Engre.co. It is also important to pay attention to the completed objects. It will be great if you have the opportunity to see photos of finished projects or visit the facility during the renovation phase.

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PAGABO AND SYPRO GAIN ISO 9001 AND ISO 27001 CERTIFICATION

FOLLOWING an assessment process that has taken just over 12 months, Hull-based companies Pagabo and Sypro have announced that the two organisations have successfully become ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified. ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised Quality Management System (QMS) standard that can be accredited to any size organisation. Designed to be a powerful business improvement tool, this certification allows businesses to continually improve, streamline operations and reduce costs. Similarly, ISO 27001 is the specification for an information security management system (ISMS). Its aim is to provide a framework of standards for how a modern organisation should manage its information and data. Risk management is a key component of this accreditation, ensuring that an organisation understand where their strengths and weaknesses lie. Pagabo and Sypro’s services are closely related, with interconnecting teams providing services within the built environment. Simon Toplass, chief executive at Pagabo, which is a national framework provider working primarily within the construction sector, said: “ISO accreditations are a trusted symbol of quality and are woven into our everyday life – from credit card numbers to road signs. We spend a great deal of time and energy on our processes to ensure we remain wholly compliant to the processes required for our business function and provide our clients with the excellent expertise they know us for. “Gaining these accreditations was the next step in demonstrating the commitment to quality that our current and potential customers and staff deserve. The certification process has been just over 12 months and has helped us to further improve our service offering – even in those areas we felt our delivery was already solid.” Simon Hunt, chief executive at Sypro, which is a software solutions company providing compliance, project and contract management tools, said: “We’re of course really pleased to have gained these certifications to further cement our credibility both to customers and the sector as a whole. Both of our companies – especially Sypro – are deeply rooted in software and technology to provide our clients with the excellent services and solutions to help them do their jobs better. “This of course means that data protection and privacy need to be rooted at the heart of our organisations and having a clear set of information security management procedures in place will keep all contacts and information safe. Knowing that we now have additional certifications to cement our compliance with top-quality business standards will further increase the level of trust our customers can have in us as service providers – and create pride within our teams for this achievement too.” For more information, please visit https://www.pagabo.co.uk/ or https://www.sypro.co.uk/

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Five Benefits of Buying Used Items for Your Business

There’s no denying that buying new comes with plenty of benefits. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for your business. There are plenty of benefits of buying used too! Whether you are interested in equipment restoration and want to know exactly how to restore items on your own, or you are interested in buying used items that have already been restored by a professional, there are plenty of reasons why this might be the best choice for you and your business. Save Money There are tons of ways you can save money for your business. Chances are, you have tried quite a few of them. One of the best is buying used items. Used items always cost less money than buying brand new. Depending on what you’re buying, you could save thousands off of the list price, which is money you can reinvest into your business in other ways. Worried that the quality of the items will reflect their price? Make sure you turn to reputable restorers, and you should ask if the item comes with a warranty or a guarantee. Quality sellers will always back their items with some kind of policy that enables you to get your money back or have the item fixed. Another tip is to buy used—but barely. Many items are returned almost immediately after they were sold because the buyer decided it wasn’t right for them, or a small defect was present that was easy to fix by the supplier. You can save a lot of money on something that is essentially new anyway! Get More Features Sometimes, it isn’t a matter of saving money. You’ll end up spending the same amount whether you buy new or used, but what you buy may be completely different. Because new items always cost more, you may have to make some sacrifices on the model and features you want. That’s not the case if you decide to buy used. Because used is always cheaper than new, you are more likely to afford all of the features you want. You may spend the same amount of money, but you’ll end up buying a higher quality product that provides you with all the functionality you need. Reduce Depreciation If you’re interested in buying machinery or technology that you eventually want to resell yourself in the future, you may want to consider buying used from the very beginning. Many items depreciate in value the second they are purchased. Cars are the most well-known example. They depreciate in value over 10 percent just because they are driven off the lot! You will get more bang for your buck when you purchase a used car, and you’ll get more money back compared to what you spent when you’re ready to sell it. The same is true of equipment and other items that are used in business. Buy the team slightly used tablets and invest in high-quality, used manufacturing equipment. When you’re ready to upgrade, you won’t lose as much money when it’s time to sell. No Waiting Buying new can be exciting, but it can also be frustrating to wait. Certain items and equipment can’t just be picked up at the store. Instead, you have a place an order and wait for it to be manufactured and shipped. That’s not something you have to worry about when you buy used. Inventory for used items is in-stock and ready to be purchased. That means you can get what you need in a matter of minutes if the item is in town. If it’s being shipped, you’ll get it in a matter of days instead of waiting weeks, or even months. Smaller Carbon Footprint Another benefit of buying used is a smaller carbon footprint. Not only will it make you feel better about operating your business, it’s also something consumers are looking for. When you buy used, there are multiple ways you can reduce your carbon footprint: New resources weren’t used to manufacture the item There is no additional pollution generated in their creation They don’t come with excess packaging They prevent perfectly usable items from entering the landfill It’s okay to have some reservations about buying used. You don’t want to waste your money on an item that won’t work shortly after you buy it! However, when you do your research and choose the used items that you buy wisely, you can save money, get more features, go green, and much more.

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5 Marketing Trends In The Construction Industry

If you want your construction business to stand out from its competitors, consider making a shift to digital marketing. For several years, online marketing campaigns are on a steady rise. And for a good reason, digital marketing provides leverage to small businesses and startups but at lower costs.   Whether you’re already harnessing digital marketing techniques or are still planning to start your campaign, here’s how you can work smart and integrate the best marketing trends in the construction industry today and for years to come. 1. Content marketing Content marketing is a long-term marketing campaign that can be used in either the initial or current stages of your business. At the onset, it can be used to create brand awareness. Done continuously, it can be helpful in slowly building your brand, and later, improve brand reputation and trust.     Blogs, graphics, video blogs, social media posts, and any informative post online, as long as it’s high-value, can be beneficial in cementing your place in the industry. A good strategy is to make everything user-centric, meaning you have come up with content that your audience will take an interest in and share with their peers.       2. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) SEO is a set of techniques that allow a construction company to boost its search rankings, helping raise awareness about the brand. A company that appears high in search engines receives more site clicks and visits and conveys trustworthiness.  Put simply, SEO methods include understanding search algorithms to know how they rank and adjusting your content based on these factors. This may mean changing your content to accommodate these criteria. One good strategy is to conduct a simple web search based on specific keywords that apply to you. For instance, type ‘best new construction companies near me,’ and see if your company appears.   Also, analyze how your competitors use their strategies to rank high in search engines. Practicing effective SEO techniques requires the help of a digital marketing specialist team, like Caffeine Cheltenham, to work efficiently. 3. Paid digital ads In pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, a construction company, or any business organization for that matter, will only pay once a user clicks on the ad and visits their website. When availing of this ad service, a company’s ad will be placed on top of search results or on another site to increase traffic on the advertiser’s website.  The construction company’s ad will appear on the search results based on the keywords typed by the user.   Display ads appear ubiquitously on the various parts of the site’s content. It’s said that these types of ads effectively reach more than 90% of internet users.  The popularity of social media platforms has made ads an emerging marketing trend. And these popular platforms are using it to their advantage. These sites harness artificial intelligence to program advertisements to specific users based on their interests, age, gender, and hobbies, among other factors.    4. Video marketing  Video marketing is another emerging strategy for most businesses, including the infrastructure sector. This strategy is beneficial for companies because it allows the marketing team to produce videos to market products and services more effectively.  According to a survey done by HubSpot, a top sales and marketing software company, a brand’s marketing video convinced 81% of customers to avail of a product or service after watching it. Additionally, 76% of the marketers were under the impression that a marketing video was vital in increasing sales and traffic.  Of all the various content forms, videos are the most engaging, where brand recall was also highest, according to ‘Media Equivalence Study: Video,’ done by Mediaplus Group, SevenOne Media, and Google Germany. Whether introducing a new product, creating an exciting story about the company’s origins, client testimonials, or expounding the benefits of your goods and services, consider producing a video for more appealing content. 5. Email marketing Email distribution is one of the most cost-effective digital marketing strategies you can use these days. These can come from information emails, digital newsletters, product updates, and welcome emails. These email blasts can help increase your client base, look for potential leads, and promote customer retention.   As a construction company, you can send newsletters to your customers and promotional updates on deals and discounts for existing clients. New customers may also be offered helpful content, whether informational blogs, videos, links to webinars, and more, just to keep sparking their interest in your brand.    What about traditional marketing? Traditional marketing such as television, event hosting, billboards, and other forms of print advertising are still needed but will command lesser attention than digital marketing campaigns. The Bottom Line  Whether a newly-established business or an industry veteran, organizations, especially construction companies, should shift to digital marketing in 2021 and beyond. SEO, content, and video marketing, and digital paid ads are the most popular marketing strategies. They’re not only practical but budget-friendly and offer measurable results, as well.   

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How to Start a Business if you Don’t Have Very Good Finances

If you want to start a business, then you will have probably spent quite some time trying to work through your ideas. You’ve also probably thought of having a distant aunt who could leave you a fortune so that you can get a jump-start. This isn’t likely, so you have to make sure that you think about realistic ways you can start a business if you don’t have any money. If you want to find out more, simply take a look below. Test out the Market You have to make sure that whatever you produce, you provide a good service. You need to find out what the market wants and you also need to do your research on social media too. If you make a bad product then you may find that you end up suffering in terms of your reputation and this is the last thing that you need. Test the market and also find out if you can do anything to try and perfect your idea. If you can do this, then you will soon find that things work in your favour much more than you realise. Get a Good Business Plan If you want to gain funding from anyone who is not your friends and family, you have to make sure that you have a good business plan. If you intend to keep the cost low, then you can write it yourself. If you want a good result, then don’t be afraid to ask someone else to do it for you. They will usually be more than happy to if you are willing to pay them a fee. Focusing on the numbers and being modest overall in the regards to the projected sales will help any potential investors to see how your business is going to grow. It will also help you to create a great deal of profit in the future. If you need some help searching for a loan then there are providers out there who can help. Swedish Prekredit is just one example. Get some Funding If you know that you need to get funding from somewhere else then remember that there are numerous ways that you can get it. In general, the most traditional route you can take would be for you to head to the bank so you can get a loan. The issue here is that you can get into lots of debt by doing this. Don’t buy everything at once by using your credit card. Instead, try and use the company revenue you have to finance a lot of your expenses. Try and use a crowdfunding platform if you can as this will allow the public to fund your idea. They can fund everything anonymously if they believe that it is going to work and this is all done in exchange for a reward. You can also take some pre-orders through the platform if you want as well so it is vital that you keep this in mind. Know what your Strengths Are If you want to generate a good amount of cash flow then you’ll be glad to know that it is very affordable for you to set up a service-oriented business. If you provide a service that you are fully aware people need, then you can easily use it to collect your funds. The funds can then be built up and you can use it to generate a good amount of cash flow to generate a second business if you want. Your second business might well be product-based. Try something simple, like selling stock photography or even by investing in tutoring. Barter Starting a company without having access to a laptop or even the internet is difficult to say the least. It may be that you need to barter for things that you cannot normally afford. It’s worth noting that there are some competitions that your company can invest in and this will help you to succeed overall. It’s also possible for you to look into prize draws as you never know when you are going to come out with a win. Access Free Tech You do not need to have something like a fancy site or even a fully fledged customer service system if you don’t have many customers yet. You need to try and promote your business for free by using website builders if possible. If you can do this, then you’ll soon find that everything comes together nicely.

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5 Tips to Choose the Best UX Design Agency for Startup

The business value of design is on the rise in the customer-centric age. Regardless of market share or industry, user experience (UX) design is becoming a major competitive differentiator, as customers are more likely to switch brands or leave purchases unfinished if they don’t enjoy an online or in-app experience.  To enact the UX best practices from the project’s onset, find a reliable design agency that will give you a hand using the five tips below. We suggest you act on them in order, as following this algorithm will weed out unreliable UX design agencies ill-equipped to handle your project. Of course, you can introduce more interim steps and checks to ensure the UX design agency for startups of your choice meets your requirements to a T. Settle on a Team Size Hiring a one-person UI/UX design team represented by a freelance designer is the cheapest option, therefore, the most sought after by startups. However, it’s also the riskiest one, as the designer becomes the project’s bottleneck, especially when juggling multiple clients and responsibilities. Even the most diligent designers can catch a cold, go for a career pivot, or change employers. Regardless of the force-majeure, you will be left with no UX support and will have to go through the search and onboarding process all over again. Working with a development and design agency is a safer option. You get a range of expertise, and the vendor takes full responsibility for unforeseen circumstances to keep the UX design on track and within budget. Though this approach requires thorough research and calls for increased investment, it is more likely to produce the desired results. Analyze the Portfolio Start with the UX design agency’s website and Dribbble or Behance profiles. After browsing through past designs, consider three questions: How much experience does the company possess? Pay attention to the number of completed and delivered projects, not just the concepts that never saw the light of the day. Keep an eye out for the projects within your niche or target audience and compare them to the designs you’ve seen throughout the competition. How much variety is there in the agency’s designs? Some companies stick with the same layouts and offer nothing new or innovative regardless of the industry or project type. That’s not the partner you want on your side if you want your project to stand out post-launch. How good is their UX design? Check out the projects in your niche and consider the ease of use, navigation, and calls to action. If you’re looking to design a website, make sure the agency’s past designs are mobile-friendly and follow the SEO best practices. Some companies avoid posting their full portfolio online. Still, you can reach out to those on your shortlist to request examples of past projects within your market niche. This will help you kill two birds with one stone by reviewing the portfolio and analyzing the communication approach. Assess Communication Consider your preferred communication mode (email, instant messaging, video calls) and use it to conduct preliminary discussions and interviews. You need to evaluate how good the team is at understanding your needs, formulating proposals, and addressing your feedback. The latter is especially important, as you might need to introduce changes or request corrections once the project is underway. Ask the design team about the projects they are most proud of and offer mild criticism. Analyze the way the team reacts to your comments. If they are open to suggestions and ready to agree that things could have gone better, you’re in luck. If the designers become overly defensive and unwilling to listen to your comments, however justified, they are unlikely to heed your feedback throughout your partnership.  Evaluate the Proposal The content of the proposal you get is the obvious factor to consider. You don’t want to cooperate with a company that isn’t interested enough to personalize the offer. Instead of copying your brief and pasting a price tag, a high-end UX design agency will offer a list of preliminary solutions and approaches tailored to your niche and project. Even if they don’t go into detail, the basic suggestions are usually enough to learn how interested the agency is in becoming your design partner. The less obvious thing to study in a proposal is the layout and presentation. Do not trust a company that doesn’t bother designing proper file layouts for business communication. If they cannot develop a quality in-house solution, they are unlikely to treat your project any better. Study the Processes Research should be the design agency’s priority, regardless of the project or niche. Experienced UX designers will have a million questions about the target audience, user personas, their needs, and requirements. If you cannot provide the answers to all these questions, the agency should be able to conduct market research in your stead. Avoid companies that jump straight into building wireframes and designing mockups. They will likely rely on recycled past projects and well-worn designs that are far removed from your customers’ needs. Ideally, the design team should be up-to-date with current UX research and trends instead of relying on gut feeling and knowing what’s best for users. The project management approach is also crucial. The UX agency should provide you with a communication framework, an updated schedule, and access to collaboration tools in use. You should also discuss the form of design delivery, qualitative and quantitative deliverables, project scope, timeline, budget, and more. Finding the right UX design agency to work on your startup project is an intense, time-consuming task. However, if you follow our tips and treat your search seriously, you might come up with a long-term design partner that will stay by your side for years to come. After all, finding the right team is one of the most reliable ways to keep your startup from failing, like the unlucky 9 out of 10 do.

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7 Essential Areas of Maintenance for Businesses

If you have a commercial property or multiple residential units, you are definitely going to spend a significant amount of money on the upkeep and maintenance of your property. Similarly, whether you have a startup or a large-scale corporation, maintenance is one of the most critical aspects of your business. To provide your staff with a convenient and comfortable workspace, it is important that you stay on top of routine maintenance of your property. The major goal of routine maintenance is to keep your building in tip-top condition. Regular maintenance is a must for all businesses of all sizes and types. Not only does it help you save money on future repairs and replacements, but proper maintenance keeps your employees and visitors safe. 1. Training and Development Regular training and development have many benefits, not only for the maintenance providers but for employees and the entire staff too. Maintenance training is important for the growth of the company and employees alike. Trained employees are more likely to execute the management tasks efficiently and maintenance adds a lot of value to your team, improving your financial performance in the long run. 2. Lighting The lighting in the workplace should neither be too bright that it will strain your eyes nor be too dim to make it difficult for the employees to see objects clearly. Bright lights can cause headaches, eye strain, and other medical issues that not only affect the health of the individual but can lead to lower productivity. Similarly, your eyes have to work harder to focus on objects in a poorly-lit environment. For these reasons, it is important to conduct lighting and electrical inspections on a regular basis to ensure that your rooms are well lit. Comprehensive lighting maintenance includes interior, exterior, and exit lighting. The lights and lamps installed in the exteriors and interiors of your workplace must be cleaned and maintained regularly. Professionals will also check the hardware and cables of the lights to ensure that everything is working smoothly. 3. Safety Accidents could occur at any time in commercial buildings, especially on a manufacturing or construction site. The only way to minimize the risk of these accidents is to keep all your office equipment and tools up to date. Managers are responsible for checking the quality of all tools and ensuring that each part of the machinery and all equipment are in good working condition. Some heavy-duty machines require proper training, qualifications, and a license to be operated. Make sure you restrict the use of these machines to only those with qualifications and training to operate them. 4. HVAC System The goal of any organization is to create a comfortable work environment that enables people to conduct their tasks and projects as efficiently as possible. The HVAC system in your workplace plays a crucial role in maintaining optimal temperatures. Proper ventilation is also important, especially in areas where you have stored sensitive materials. Therefore, it is essential to clean all air ducts, coils, and other components of the HVAC unit. Schedule a HVAC inspection periodically, generally every five to six months. Air filter components should also be cleaned and maintained every quarter. 5. Commercial Cleaning Hiring commercial cleaners can make your workplace a comfortable, clean, and pleasant place. The cleanliness of your office affects not only health and hygiene, but also productivity levels. Employees will work harder when they are working in a cleaner, more pleasant environment. A regular cleaning contract with a professional cleaning company is the best way to achieve this. 6. Building Interiors The interiors of your building include a range of items that require specific maintenance, from the door locks to employee cubicles and plumbing. You should hire a plumber to inspect wall pipes and drainage. Likewise, contract a professional building inspection team to check every nook and cranny of your site’s interior. Regular inspection will not only keep your office equipment and fixtures in good condition, but it will also protect your office from pest infestation and other issues. 7. Exterior Maintenance Your commercial landscape is the first thing your investors, employees, customers, and business partners will see when they enter your building. The cleanliness of your exteriors is as important as interior cleaning, but that alone will not suffice. You need to inspect the gutters, roof, lawns, floors, fencing, exterior paints and walls, and other areas as part of proper maintenance. The windows, doors, facade walls, and roof of your commercial building are a few things that require regular upkeep. You should also focus on the aesthetics of your exteriors, as this is key to the first impression you give your customers and visitors. Key Takeaways Employees who participate in maintenance activities must be trained and qualified for the job. It is common for businesses to prioritize cost concerns over maintenance. However, you should never delay maintenance to save a little money, as a small issue in your office could lead to a serious problem that might cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.

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Kite Packaging have brought to market their new range of reusable, recyclable and biodegradable shredded paper

The employee-owned business has recently added a wide range of innovative solutions to their ecommerce offering providing customers with sustainable alternatives, their latest one being shredded paper. Kite’s reusable, recyclable and biodegradable FSC and PEFC certified shredded paper is the perfect sustainable void fill solution for not only protecting items but also as an added aesthetic and is FSC and PEFC certified. Commonly used in boxes, hampers, gift bags, baskets and much more, its zig-zag shape ensure it works its way into every corner filling small gaps and providing ultimate cushioning. Available in kraft (produced from 100% recyclable materials) black and white, Kite’s smooth and uncoated 70-80gsm paper does not need fluffing up beforehand and is industrially dust-extracted therefore reducing the dusty mess often associated with other alternatives. This high-quality alternative to many void fill solutions provides great cushioning for fragile products with good holding power. For more information please visit kitepackaging.co.uk

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