Do you know gift cards in Pakistan and their power to help you sell more in both physical and online stores?

There is no doubt that this is a clear resource that is used by many people who need to give a gift to a friend or family member, and although they are not sure what to buy for that special person, they do know in which store to do it.

For this reason, and knowing it, more and more eCommerce are adapting to this “offline” custom, in order to increase their profits by making cash at the end of the month.

In this case, I will focus on defining together what gift cards are in online stores, how to offer them and how to have them available at all times if you have an ecommerce in PrestaShop, so be very attentive!

You can also buy them through online shopping.

What are gift cards?

A gift card is a document offered by many businesses for purchase by their customers, whose value is exchangeable and equivalent to a purchase or contracting of the products or services that the business offers at a given time.

These, as their name suggests, are physically presented in the form of a “card” or “gift card”, which is how you can also see it mentioned, especially in ecommerce.

There are two main types of gift cards: open (or bank) cards, accepted by the main payment solutions such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express; and the closed (or retail) ones, accepted only in certain stores.

In this article, we will focus on closed gift cards that can be issued by your own store.

Advantages of using gift cards in online stores

Gift cards are a great option not only for customers, but also for the sellers who sell them, as I have been mentioning to you so far.

Here are some compelling reasons to offer gift cards in your online store:

It is an easy option for the customer: he does not need to know the recipient’s address or preferences.

End customers can choose the items they really want, which reduces the number of returns on your website.

Your cash flow will increase: you will receive the payment even before you have to ship the product.

They are an easy option, but more personal than giving money.

With gift cards, new customers who might otherwise be hesitant to buy from your store have a reason to meet you.

Customers typically pay full price and spend more than the value of the gift card.

Disadvantages of gift cards for online stores

Of course, everything has its pros and cons.

Here are some of the disadvantages of offering gift cards in your store:

More accounting. You will have to account for the initial purchase of the gift card, but also the order of the corresponding product, which is when the gift card is actually refunded.

No returns, only exchanges. With most credit card processors, funds can only be returned to the purchaser’s original card. This makes it impossible to issue refunds to the gift recipient.

Possible fraud. In some cases, a scammer could purchase the gift card and use all of its value before you, the seller, realize the original order was fraudulent.

 

Recycling is one of the most inclusive community efforts that anyone can initiate. Every person in the community can participate and help ensure the endeavor’s success. Such a movement can only mean a cleaner neighborhood and a better living environment. It can also mean additional funding for the community finances.

All it takes is for one person from the community to spearhead the effort, and it will grow organically once the people see that someone is leading the charge. Often, people will respond positively if they’re well-informed and motivated by organizers to pitch in to the extent they can manage. Once people see that there’s something good happening, they tend to follow suit.

Among the critical factors that ensure the success of a community-based recycling campaign is the choice of a recycling partner. While the community can collect recyclables and scrap materials, organizers should consider working with reputable industry partners like Langley Recycling for transparency and efficiency. They are an experienced entity specializing in turning trash into cash and can provide the best deals.

Here are the steps to consider when organizing a recycling campaign.

Assign a coordinating body

The first step is to assign a coordinating body to oversee the campaign. They will be in charge of planning the initiative and working with other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the campaign. They will also be the ones who can spearhead the education campaign to motivate the community to participate.

Establish achievable goals

Have the coordinating body establish achievable goals. Start with something small so people can work together to achieve it properly. Once people understand that they can contribute to the campaign’s success, they will try their best to pitch in.

Target your audience and involve them

Consider using social media platforms to ensure that the campaign gains traction with the community. It will be great to show the audience how near they are to achieving the target. It will also do well for the campaign to show the amount raised and where the fund was used. Transparency is critical to ensuring the sustainability of the program.

Involve the audience by conducting polls or contests to spur their interest in participating in the campaign. Then, reward them using a part of the campaign’s funds so people will become more involved.

Implement the campaign properly

Implement the campaign consistently. Set schedules for the scrap materials pickup, and if you can record how much each household contributes to the effort, it will be much better because you can reward them at the end of the year. Consider developing and expanding your message using different social media platforms to ensure that the neighborhood would continue to be informed and motivated.

Assess and evaluate

If you wish to sustain the campaign, consider listening to the feedback from the field. Set regular assessments to determine if the drive is effective or if changes must be implemented.

Takeaways 

Organizing a community-level recycling campaign can be challenging but highly rewarding. It takes a cooperative effort in the neighborhood to sustain the recycling campaign.

 

                         

 

It might be difficult to obtain peace if you live near loud people. Fortunately, there are techniques to decrease surrounding noise with do-it-yourself tasks or home renovations. Here are some ideas for reducing neighbour noise.

Soundproof The Walls

Noise may be an issue if you live in a flat with your neighbours, especially if you’re on the bottom floor. In shared residences, walls are frequently thinner, allowing sound to travel more swiftly.

Acoustic foams and panels are other options for soundproofing your walls. These panels, which are air-resistant and sound-absorbing, are usually composed of fibreglass and minimize noise transmission through them.

By dry lining your walls, you may increase insulation. These are available from ADA Fastfix, for example. Dry lining your walls will not only help to decrease noise; it will also result in reduced thermal loss and energy expenses.

Because sound is more easily transmitted through thin materials, the thicker you can make your walls, the better. Dry lining is quicker and less complicated to install than wet plaster, so it’s also cheaper if you hire someone to do it for you. A vapour barrier should be placed behind the plasterboards to allow for adequate air circulation. This prevents condensation by reducing dampness. There are a variety of dry lining materials and fastenings available to help you save money on this operation.

Plug Gaps In The Door

Cheap doors that don’t reduce noise coming into your home are frequently used. If you have the cash, it’s worth replacing your present door with one composed of stronger, thicker materials. This can assist to muffle the sound from your neighbours. If this isn’t an option, you can modify what you have to reduce the amount of sound that travels through.

If sounds are leaking through from the outside, check for holes or gaps around your door. A foam sealant might help to make your doors more airtight. If you’re looking for a stylish door to complement your décor, consider purchasing one that’s made of glass or crystal. You may also want to invest in a door sweep that is attached to the base of your doors and seals any gaps – they not only absorb noise from the outside world but also keep out drafts.

Check The Windows

If you live in a noisy city or on a major road, it’s possible that noise emanates from the street rather than your adjacent neighbours. In this situation, your windows might be to blame for the sound.

Sealants, once again, are the greatest answer to ensure that noise and drafts do not enter your home. Double glazing, on the other hand, prevents sound from traveling through thinner glass panes (as well as improving the warmth of your house!) if your budget permits.

You can’t always quiet neighbours’ noise, but you may at least lessen it. The strategies outlined in this article will help you achieve that while also retaining heat inside your property. This should hopefully lead to a more calm atmosphere!

 

Home-based businesses are becoming quite common nowadays. Many people have started humble enterprises with the right mindset and proper marketing that are now fully registered profit-making businesses. Catering is one of the most popular businesses nowadays. If you know how to cook, why not start selling it?

Starting any business can be quite a hassle. Still, if you follow a streamlined process and some insightful tips that we will provide, success is destined to fall your way. Follow a few simple steps that provide you with a complete guide on your research plan, target market, tactics, and post-establishment rituals. You are most likely to meet success in your catering business.

Steps to Build a Successful Catering Business from Home 

Let’s discuss some of the most important points included in this guide to start a home-run catering business.

Research, Research and We Cannot Emphasize More – RESEARCH

The first and foremost thing you must do is to research literally each and everything associated with home-based catering businesses. Some of the most important things that need to be included in this research are:

• Competitor analysis
• The industry you need to target
• Requirement of catering services
• Normal market pricing and packages
• Customers who order food from catering

For customers, getting food isn’t a difficult task to do. If it’s not you, they will order it from somewhere else. So, it is your job to determine why you should be their first choice—research the deals and packages that your competitors are offering. You will have a thorough insight into their business and how they are maintaining a reputation. Once you are done researching every aspect of the business, think of indicators that may make your life better.

Find Out Who Your Potential Customers Are

We completely agree with the concept that every business starts from home. Your friends and family are always going to be your very first customers. However, you need to focus on the bigger picture. Think of the people who could become your long-term paying clients. Talk to your friends about clients that could actually be interested in your business. If you think that people in your family and social circle may not be that helpful, invest a bit in marketing. Give brochures, or run survey calls. The worst thing about startups is that they take time to become established. However, once you are settled and earning, there is no going back.

Make a list of the different types of businesses that may need your services. Ask yourself if you want to be a part of an event management team or are you comfortable running this business independently. Once you have some warm leads, show interest in how you can make their catering experience better.

Market Your Business Properly

Although this is just a guide on starting a catering business, we cannot put enough stress on the role that marketing plays for startups. A home-based business needs more marketing than people who start a shop with a physical setup.

• Conduct weekly email marketing sessions.
• Spread your word out by sending cards and pamphlets.
• Introduce the internet by going online. Make a website and social media accounts to attract customers.
• Dial-up some relevant leads and perform smart cold calls.
• Ask your friends to spread the word.

Just do whatever it takes to get the word out. One of the most important things that many people do not realize is that the quicker you get the word out, the better you will perform. A standard business requires almost one to two months of regular marketing to even start getting orders.

Streamline Your Niche

You may think that when it comes to catering, there is no niche. This cannot be far from the truth. People who enter the F&B industry know the importance of a niche and its role in the development of an eatery. Before even starting the business, you must know who your potential customers are going to be. Are they high-profile executives or random families who want you for dinner parties and birthdays? Some common niches are:

• Weddings
• Birthdays
• Corporate dinners
• Children parties
• Anniversaries
• Lunch boxes for offices or schools
• Canteens

Once you know who your customers are, it is possible to specify the menu type. Common examples include:

• Barbecue
• Chinese
• Vegan
• Baking
• Low-Calorie
• Keto

Go with what you find convenient but do not restrict yourself.

Spend Some Money

Since this is a massive milestone of your life, consider throwing in a couple of bucks. Invest a bit in kitchenware that you have always wanted. This is a big moment in your life, and you deserve the things of your liking. Also, it’s not just about you. Investing in high-quality kitchenware can actually be a way to promote your business. For example, you can talk to your customers about how you focus on the quality of food and the utensils it is made in. Due to the pandemic, cleanliness and quality are a top priority for literally everyone. This could actually hit the bull’s eye.

Establish an Open Connection

For people who want to establish themselves in the food industry, the two most important things are quality and order. Since you are working from home, there is no way your clients are going to manage the transportation to take the food. To maintain order, a system is mandatory for delivering orders. Build your way up by making your initial deliveries on your own. You might think that it looks menial, but clients appreciate business owners who take a personal interest in the work in reality. Talk to them, take their orders, and once you have enough funds in your budget – improvise by making a mobile app. Always ask for reviews and testimonials and find out ways to work on negatives instead of beating yourself about them.

Conclusion

Catering business is a rapidly growing niche. If you are consistent and are able to provide quality, your business is going to take off. Just be patient and hit all the right notes. Before you know it, your business will take off.

 

The construction industry is facing massive challenges due to restrictions brought by the ongoing pandemic. These safety guidelines are preventing efficient operation, and also limit the extent of work that can be done on a project site. Nevertheless, complying with these guidelines is essential to protecting the safety of everyone involved. Also, the government is quite strict with compliance – and any breach will be subject to sanctions. Thus, to survive and remain afloat in these circumstances, every construction company must implement protocols that adhere to health and safety standards. And if you’re lucky enough to continue project operations, the following tips should be considered.

Consistent communication with stakeholders

During these times, when situations can change every day, communication between stakeholders is critical. In every construction project, there are many people involved. Consistent communication on updates should be done through phone calls, video calls, and other means. Of course, face-to-face interaction should be avoided as much as possible.

How to handle site inspections

Even without a full crew of workers on-site, inspections are still critical to monitoring progress. Instead of physical inspections, an alternative would be to conduct a virtual tour. There is advanced technology available which will allow you to take photos and videos of the site without compromising safety. Another benefit of virtual inspections is that you can do it at any time of the day without worrying about delays.

Equipment rental and sourcing of materials

One problem that most construction companies are experiencing today is the delivery of goods and materials. As such, delays with work also become inevitable. When it comes to renting equipment, plant hire Birmingham companies can remotely handle requests and delivery to minimise contact with clients. Adequate safety protocols when it comes to disinfection and wearing of protective clothing is also key to preventing outbreaks.

Flexibility in meeting schedules

Due to unnecessary delays, construction projects can’t meet completion deadlines set before the pandemic. Adjusting the schedule according to the current circumstances will help the contractor come up with new metrics and guidelines for each team. Right now, what’s most important is to remain realistic about expectations, especially since there’s no assurance when things will return to normal.

Mitigating costs and reducing loss

When there are delays in the work schedule, the contractor is bound to suffer financial loss. To avoid bleeding funds, you’ll need to carefully assess the project to determine if there are areas where you can cut expenses and save money. If you’re going to reduce the workforce, you may also want to think about holding off on some material orders. Enlisting the help of a consultant can help you gain a better perspective over the big picture and identify strategies that will prevent further loss.

Compliance with protocols

Despite the strict regulations imposed by the government, compliance with health protocols is essential. Never cut any corners as one outbreak will have a more devastating impact. For instance, you’ll need to follow the guidelines on physical distancing. It’s also critical to follow the rules on disinfection and wearing of protective clothing. Employees should also be monitored daily to identify anyone who may be experiencing symptoms of the disease.