Category Archives: Business Travel

How to Ship Glass Soda Bottles

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Shipping glass soda bottles may seem like a risk, especially considering the possibility that the bottles could break during transit, or even explode when opened by their recipient. However, it is not impossible to send glass soda bottles via parcel delivery. It’s actually quite simple. Here’s how:

First, arrange the bottles in a square rectangle on top of the table to get an idea of what size box you will need. Then, wrap each one of the bottles individually with bubble wrap, preferable 3-4 layers, and tape the ends shut securely. Be sure not to cover the bottom of the bottle, as it needs to be able to sit flat in the box.
Then, place the bottles inside of the box, trying to arrange them as close together as possible. This helps to minimize the movement of the bottles, so that they do not bang into each other and create further risk for breakage. Fill in any gaps with packing peanuts, making sure that each bottle is cushioned well. Fill the box all the way up until the tops of the bottles are covered.

At this point, go ahead and tape the box shut with strong mailing tape, and write the words “fragile” in large letters on the outside of the box. Since the postal service will not allow you to ship glass soda bottles via the mail, you will need to utilize a courier. Before you call your local courier, you should weigh your package on a bathroom scale to determine its weight, and use measuring tape to determine the length, width and height of the box. This information will be needed in order to determine the cost of sending your parcel.

Then, contact your courier to arrange a pickup. You can also use the comparison and booking website to find the lowest rates available to ship your package. The site offers free instant quotes to its users, comparing the rates of several top-notch courier services, such as Parcel Force and UPS, and you can even schedule a pickup while you are online.

So, for whatever reason you may have to ship glass soda bottles across the state or across the country, know that you can do so easily while reducing the risk of breakage or explosion, which could turn into a real mess for your recipient! Just follow these simple steps and everything should turn out just fine in transit. And, your recipient can enjoy their special parcel, which they might even be able to keep as a collector’s item after drinking the soda.

Most parcel delivery service companies maintain their own website where customers can check out how long it will take their package to get to its destination and after entering information such as the size and weight of the parcel, will know how much it will cost. After that, customers can print their own shipping labels right at the home or office and then arrange to have the parcel collected and shipped. The parcel can also be tracked every step of the way so the sender can see its progress until it arrives at its destination.

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How to Fit Travel and Expense Into Your Business Budget

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Business travel is a necessary expense for most people. When you think of travel and expense for business, you probably think of flying off to another state, being put up in a hotel and attending a conference or two. But business travel can also include just heading to the next town over to meet with a client. All of these things cost money and you need to know how to deal with travel expense reports, expense tracking, and budgeting for these needs.

First you need to put aside a reasonable estimate each year from your business’ budget. If it’s local travel that you are really worried about, it’ll be easier to do this. You’ll want to include gas prices, car rental (unless your company has its own car) and parking costs. You’ll also want to have an idea of how many times a year these trips are made. Do you drive weekly to meet with a certain client, or is it a more varied month by month basis?

When it comes to long distance travel, business expenses can be anything from a couple hundred to thousands of dollars. It depends on where flights are to, the kind of hotels your employee is staying in, any additional transportation costs from the hotel to wherever they need to be, and other small costs like a seat for a convention.

Expense management software is an easy way to keep track of these trips. You can put in all the information of the trip and have it calculate the costs for you, as well as keep track of any extra spending that the employee may have done. Your entire year’s expenses can be recorded so that when it comes to filing taxes or just dealing with overall budget, you have every single trip on file ready to be accessed.

If you are unsure of whether you can afford a trip ahead of time, plug it into expense management software long before you book. You’ll get an idea of the costs and whether or not it’s a feasible investment. The most important thing is that you never book without knowing you have the funds to back it up. Don’t pull from other business finances if you don’t have to. You have to weigh what is more important to your company.

When it comes to business travel and expense, it can be daunting. But if you keep on top of figures and set aside a good amount of money, you won’t be in the red at the end of the year.

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How to Pack Ceramics for Parcel Shipping

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Ceramics are one of the most delicate and fragile materials to ship. They must be packaged properly in order to avoid breakage in transit. The following are some tips of how to properly protect ceramic items when shipping them via parcel delivery.

Take the ceramic item, whether it be a plate, mug or figurine, and wrap it in tissue paper. Then, wrap the item in a couple of sheets of bubble wrap. If the item has any sensitive spots, such as a handle or other appendage that might break off when jostled, take a piece of cardboard (cut to size) and wrap it around that area. Then, tape the cardboard to the ceramic item to ensure that it stays in place. Wrap the item again in one or two more sheets of bubble wrap.

Then, place the item in a small box that is just right for its size. If you have more than one item, you may wish to separate them by creating a cardboard divider inside of your box. This reduces the risk of your items banging into each other during transit, which can cause damage. Either fold the flaps interchangeably on the box or tape the box shut, so the items do not come out.

After you have done this, find another box that is slightly larger, and place the smaller box that contains the packaged ceramics inside of the large box. Fill in any gaps around the edges with packing materials such as Styrofoam peanuts or crumpled newspaper. Make sure the box sits well and will not shift around a lot, to further reduce any chances of breakage.

Tape the box shut with mailing tape and ensures that the bottom flaps are sealed tightly as well. Write the words “Fragile” on all sides of the box to alert the courier that the items are breakable.

At this point, you will wish to then choose a parcel delivery service to ship your item. They can give you an instant quote on the cost of shipping your package, and will even e-mail you address labels that you can print out, so that you can have your package all ready to go once the courier arrives.

Some prefer to purchase insurance for fragile items, while others may skip on the feature to save costs. The choice is up to you. If you package your ceramic item properly, then you should have no worries about sending it on its way to its recipient.

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Mobile Working: The Tools You Need

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Mobile working requires very few tools to establish a virtual office on-the-go. Most mobile workers can operate effectively with a laptop computer, broadband Internet connection and a smartphone or Voice over Internet protocol (VOIP). Some mobile workers may require a portable scanner and portable printer. The devices required depend upon the complexity of the job that the mobile worker may perform.

With the introduction of cloud computing and the development of mobile applications, some mobile sales people may only need a smartphone to complete most of their work on location. Others may utilize a Netbook or laptop to complete their work. Technology has improved the way people communicate and interact within the workforce.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing technology allows applications to be hosted on a server. Users may access the applications with a login and a user ID. These applications may be accessed from any location with a compatible web browser and Internet connection. Mobile workers may access applications such as: Project Management software, Project Planning Management (PPM) software, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, calendar tools, budgeting tools and other tools that help mobile workers maintain contact with their team members and clients.

These applications are affordable, scalable and do not require an initial investment in server equipment or IT maintenance. The company simply pays per user or by the license. Customers enjoy access and improve productivity and efficiency while traveling for business.

Netbooks, Scanners and Portable Printers

Because of cloud computing, mobile workers need computers with significant processing speeds and adequate memory. However, the technology requirements are less sophisticated because no physical applications will be downloaded to the computer. All applications will remain in the cloud. For this reason, mobile workers may secure a lightweight Netbook for traveling. All documents may be stored on an offsite server or on a removable hard drive. This significantly reduces the weight of the traveler and the number of devices required.

Portable scanners are available for business travelers that may need them. These items weigh under a pound and are usually less than a foot in length. The devices are lightweight and robust. The item will easily fit into a laptop bag or luggage. The photo quality is fairly good, and the cost is affordable. This is helpful for scanning documents and faxing items through an online fax service.

Portable printers are also available. They may be slightly larger than the scanner device and heavier. Many mobile workers may use business office services to print. However, other mobile workers require the convenience of the device on hand at all times.

Smart Phones

iPhone and BlackBerry are the two smartphones geared towards business customers. BlackBerry offers more business oriented applications than iPhone. iPhone initially focused on entertainment and social networking before introducing business applications to the phone. As social networking became noticed as a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool, iPhone recognized the need to address this need. The company is now expanding its store to include more business oriented applications.

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