Entrepreneurship & Business Talks

Brain Wave, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks, Money matters

Side hustle idea: Bake by batches

November 4, 2022 No Comments

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One of the things that came out of this pandemic that hit the world was the ability of majority of individuals to come up with additional sources of income. I personally experienced this. Back in 2020, the company I am employed at cut our basic salaries into a very minimal amount. There was no cash flowing in and fixed expenses still needed to be paid, I was truly grateful I still got paid even with no work to be done. So, to augment the loss of income, my sister and I came up with the idea of selling food. We started with packed lunch and dinner. When that didn’t really panned out and we figured it was more work and little profit, we brainstormed on another business idea. Baking came to mind.

So, we went to fix the oven issues quickly. Our oven was an old electrical one. We got it fixed right away but we also bought a new gas oven just to be sure we wouldn’t incur too much on electricity.

Omo! cakes and pastries was born.

My sister is the baker and I am the one-woman support. We used to focus on it full-time but when businesses opened again and my sister and I had to go back to the office, we made it a side hustle. My sister would bake by batches. We stocked on baking supplies, made sure we have enough of it because we don’t have time to go back and forth to the stores, and my sister would bake on weekends. She baked cookies and pastries that’s why she can bake by batches. On weekdays, we would sell it through our social media accounts.

The idea of selling food came from a family friend who told us that everyone gets hungry and craves for different kinds of food. There will always be someone willing to taste what you have to offer.

The profit is not that high but nothing beats steady cash flow. You can bake by batches just like what my sister does. For cookies like what we offer, as long as you have a good storage space, it won’t spoil. It cake stay fresh even a few days after. If no one buys, then my nephews have cookies for snacks.

If you can find something you love to do, something that makes you happy, turn it into something you can earn even a little from. It could be baking or painting, or writing. It could be anything! These days, with the power of social media, you can promote anything you want to earn from through it. And, believe you me, you can really earn from it. Think of all those vloggers who had nothing to offer but their voices and their idea of what’s interesting for them. Think of the bloggers who earns from their platforms. There are so many ideas you can come up with. All you have to do is push through with it and follow through like what my sister and I did.

Brain Wave, Computers and gadgets, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks

How to Take Your Own Photos to Promote Your Business

May 16, 2022 No Comments

You need photos of your products if you want to sell them online. Sometimes you might be given good images to use if you’re purchasing your products from elsewhere. But there are often times when you need your own photography to promote not just the products you’re selling but also your brand. One option is to pay for a professional product photoshoot but that can get expensive. Although it’s more time-consuming, you also have the possibility of taking and editing your own photos. If you’ve never done that before, you’re going to need to pick up a few tips to help you.

Learn to Use Your Camera

The first thing you’ll need to learn to do is use your camera. It doesn’t really matter what the camera is. It doesn’t have to be fancy and could just be the camera on your phone, but it’s wise to make sure it can take decent photos before you commit to using it. Whichever camera you’re using, you have to know how to put it to use so that you can take the best photos. You need to learn what the different settings mean and how changing them will affect what your final photos look like.

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Pick Up Some Composition Tips

As well as knowing how to operate your camera, you should also know how to use it to get photos with good composition. Part of this is about the angle of your camera and factors such as the perspective and zoom. But you also have to consider what you choose to put in the frame and how it relates to everything around it. Of course, you might be taking different types of photos. Straightforward product photos that you want to use without backgrounds will be different to photos of your products being used or displayed in a more artistic way.

Know How to Use Editing Software

After you’ve taken your photos, your job isn’t finished. You also need to know how to edit them to get the best from them. This will likely involve using software such as PhotoShop or something similar. It doesn’t necessarily take long to pick up some useful skills, but it’s worth spending some time experimenting. You should also know how to troubleshoot some common problems. This article tells you how to tackle a frequent Photoshop problem that you might come across. It could prevent you from opening the program if you don’t know how to fix it.

Use Your Photos in the Right Way

Another important thing to keep in mind is how you’re going to use your product photos. Once you have some professional-quality photos to use, you have to think about the best ways to make use of them on your site. This might mean learning a few more skills in graphic design so you can use your photos to create banners or other images that make your online store look good.

You don’t have to hire a photographer if you want photos of your products. You could do it yourself if you’re willing to learn.

Brain Wave, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks

A hobby and small business idea.

May 9, 2022 No Comments

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I read somewhere that a person has to have three hobbies: one to make you money, one to keep you in shape, and one to be creative. But if you can find one hobby that has all the three mentioned? That would be great!

A friend accidentally found such a hobby. Growing plants. It was the start of the pandemic in 2020 when, with no job and nothing better to do inside the house, she went out and tended to her mom’s little garden. She saw one dying plant, decided to revive it, and what do you know, she found out that she has a green thumb! She began growing plants already in her mom’s little garden before she proceeded to look for plants that she could grow and sell. The idea to turn a hobby into a business came to her when the next-door neighbor offered to buy a small pot of cactus. Succulents. Herbs. Indoor plants. Small plants that she can grow at home where she has limited space.

The last time I talked to her, she was looking for hose reels worth the money, preferably one from Eley Hose Reels. She is expanding her business because demand is really high. Her old backyard hose reel would not do anymore as she has a lot of plants in her ‘inventory’ now. She now needs a commercial grade hose reel, sturdy enough to get the water supply going for her plants.

I envy people who have found such a hobby. My hobby is writing novels and, somehow, I have turned it into a side hustle. I earn lunch money from writing but my friend’s plant-growing-selling business is something else. There are days when I think about growing my own small garden, an herb garden to be exact. I just wish I can sustain it.

Brain Wave, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks, Shopping and Merchandise

What You Need to Know About Setting Up Your Own Ecommerce Store

May 3, 2022 No Comments

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In today’s world, it’s easier than ever to start your own ecommerce business. Whether you have an excellent idea for a niche market or want to try your hand at online retailing, ecommerce is a great way to go. Most people think they need a ton of money and a lot of experience to start an ecommerce business. This can be true, but you don’t need a massive budget or knowledge to get created.. From choosing the right platform to understanding the logistical challenges of running an ecommerce business, you’ll learn everything you need to know about starting your own ecommerce business.

Choosing your business model
The first step in starting an ecommerce store is to figure out what kind of business model to choose. There are four main business models for online retailing: Dropshippers, Wholesalers, Brokers, and Direct Sales. While some business models are more suited for specific products or niches, all models have pros and cons.

The best platforms for ecommerce
Thanks to the growth of the internet, you no longer need to own a brick-and-mortar retail store to sell online. That’s why there are so many online sales channels and platforms! You can start your own ecommerce business on your website, Shopify, or Amazon’s platform. Think about your goals and how each platform fits your business model when choosing a platform. Are you looking to build an audience and make recurring revenue? Or would you like to test the waters and see if ecommerce is right for you? Once you’ve decided on the right platform, make sure you’re using the right tools to run your business. Set up tools like ShipStation and Fulfilled.com to make it easy to set up your dropshipping and dropshipping fulfillment service and use analytics and tracking to optimize your sales and marketing.

What products to sell
When choosing products to sell, think about your industry and your target customers. You can do a lot of market research this way and make sure your products stand out from the crowd. Once you’ve got a better idea of what you want to sell, look at similar products in your industry and see if you can create something better.

Payment options
When you’re starting an ecommerce business, your customers will expect fast and reliable payment processing, so factor this in when looking at the benefits of ACH vs EFT. You can accept cards through ecommerce platforms, but you can also use payment processors. We recommend choosing a payment processor like Stripe, Paytrust, or BB Payments. These platforms let you accept all payment types in one place, streamline your sales and marketing processes, and offer seamless integrations with your ecommerce platform. If you choose to accept credit cards, make sure you’re compliant with PCI standards. You can also use an API or accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum. You don’t have to worry about exchange rates, fees, and chargebacks with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. This gives your customers even more payment options and lets you take control of your business’s cash flow.

Make it legal
The final step in starting your ecommerce business is to make sure it’s legal. There are tons of business models and ways to run an ecommerce business, but you need to make sure they’re legal in your region. For example, if you’re selling goods in the United States, you’ll need to find a business license and follow food and drug regulations. Before you start selling products through your ecommerce business, it’s essential to check with your state’s tax office and business licensing office to make sure you’re following all applicable laws.

Brain Wave, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks

A stack of business cards on hand.

July 2, 2021 No Comments

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One of the things I requested from the company I am employed at when I joined a couple of years ago was a business card. I planned on meeting business associates and other key individuals related to the business operations. A business card is a person’s brand. A stack of square business cards containing your contact details as well as the company or brand you are representing is very important to have with you all the time.

Here are two things I immediately caught on when my boss welcomed me into the company: make sure I am always ready for a face to face meeting with a business partner and to always have a business card on hand. The former is for me to become familiar with the industry, the company itself, and with every business partner we have. The latter is for every one I meet to remember me as the newest member of the company back then.

I was issued a box of business cards right away. You need one, too. Especially if you are in sales, marketing, promotions, and PR.

Aura Print, one of the largest in the UK and the USA, has been producing a range of business cards since 2007. You can choose from a textured paper to a 100% recycled one, or even a uniquely shaped card. They can cater to your business card needs, depending on what you require for that is uniquely identifiable to your business.

You know you are in good hands when you choose Aura Print. Quality, attention to detail, fast turnaround, and efficient. Send the design you have in mind. If you don’t have one yet, you can ask them to design it for you. Aura Print will make sure that you will be remembered by the individual(s) you meet when you hand over your business card.

Get a quote now. You need a stack of those quality-made business cards ready at all time.

Brain Wave, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks, Money matters

A steady passive income.

March 2, 2021 No Comments

This pandemic has taught us so many things but the uppermost is that we should have a steady passive income from which we can build a fund for emergencies such as the lockdown that happened last year. Several co-workers were retrenched because the company was in dire straits. We needed to cut costs to be able to stay afloat and not close shop like what so many other companies did.

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My brother is looking for used tire for sale and it made me think of a car repair shop. My Dad used to own one but it folded and closed shop when someone in the family got sick and we needed the money to pay for his hospital bills. My Dad liquidated his business to use for the hospitalization. But we grew up around that shop so my siblings and I know how to run one. Plus, I am an accountant by profession so it would be easy for us to set up shop again and start that kind of business from ground up. It will become a steady source of passive income for my siblings and I because we do not really plan to quit our nine to five jobs.

Another idea is to go ahead with the plan to put up an online shop for our handmade candles. It has been months since this idea came up but I am really busy so my sister and I put a hold on it for now. My sister has been testing, researching, polishing processes. She is also completing documents so we can register our company very soon. This will be a work-in-progress for now but very soon, I am sure it will come to fruition. This business idea excites me the most because it was a long-standing dream of my sister and I to dabble in candle and soap-making. We love the idea of making something out of our own hands and for others to use the product for their enjoyment and relaxation.

These are just two ideas of our family on how to have a steady passive income flowing into the family coffers. We want to build a sizable egg nest in preparation for old age and also for the little ones. The idea also is to have them grow into businesses and not rely solely on paychecks like what we have been doing for how many years now. We want them to learn that it is totally fine to be an employee but it is so much better if there is a business that they can grow and earn so much from.

This pandemic really made us think and look back to some goals that we have set aside in the past years. Now, more than ever, is the right time to begin working towards those goals again. If not for us, for the little ones in our family. For their future.

Brain Wave, Entrepreneurship & Business Talks

Renovating the Office.

February 2, 2021 No Comments

With this pandemic, and most places are on lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus, people have more time to think and plan. The company manager thought that this is the best time to push through with the renovation of the office since majority of the workers work from home now and labor is down. This is also the best time to contact those experts on windows and doors north york. It is best to reinforce the security of the office especially as most days nobody is there to stay or check.

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There are three considerations which should be taken into account while planning the renovation.

Timeline and cost of labor

A couple of contractors were contacted and were asked to submit proposals. The whole office will be renovated, top to bottom. How many weeks will it take for the renovation to be completed? How many workers will it need for the renovation to be done on time? How much will it cost the company to have the office renovated in the timeline and number of workers the contractor has provided?

There was an instance in the past when the company had partitions installed. Timeline and cost were provided that were not followed simply because one worker did not go to work for two days and some partitions were not pre-cut as specified in the contract. The company did not pay for anything since it was not a fault on our part, but we were inconvenienced with an additional three days of on-site work.

This time around, the timeline should be followed strictly, and the cost of labor will also have to be followed to the last cent.

New office layout

Should we go back to having partitions or stay with the open concept that was adopted a few years ago?

Most offices have cubicles for workers to provide a semblance of privacy. There are also those provided with rooms of their own. But with limited floor area to plan with, cubicles will make an office look and feel tight and cramped. With open concept though, the privacy provided by cubicles will be gone.

A properly well-thought out layout will have to be drawn, discussed, and approved by management to ensure peace and harmony when everyone goes back to the office for work after this pandemic. Just imagine three people talking on the phone and every one on the floor can hear it. Chaos.

Options, Maintenance, Security

New shades of walls, brand new tables and chairs (or newly repainted), doors and windows, biometrics. These are just some of the additional considerations in renovating the office. Also, maintaining it once the renovation is done. Professionals should be called and hired for the doors and windows for security purposes. The same should be considered for biometrics.

Renovating an office takes ample time, planning and consideration, as well as money for it to be done properly and on time. Make sure professionals are consulted and contractors are asked to submit their proposals with the contracts secured and followed to the T.

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