Kirberts finance advice and news

Camille Howe

It is often necessary to quickly elevate maintenance personnel to overhead racks and shelving. This is vital to the smooth operations of any organization. The important thing to remember is that transporting workers must be done with the best assurance of safety in the process to avoid injuries, downtime, and possible liabilities. Forklift work platforms are an ideal tool you can use to accomplish both safe and speedy transportation and elevation of employees within your warehouse or plant. Simply by attaching one of these work platforms to the front of your forklift, create an entirely new form of vehicle that is intended for a specific, unique function and designed to fulfill that function with the highest level of human safety.

Fork truck work platforms are built with fork pockets in the back that allow them to be accessed by the tines of the forklift. Chains are then wrapped around the forks to provide the first level of securing the attachment. The second level of security comes in the form of a tine lock engaged to lock the work platform firmly in place.

Forklift work platforms have handrails on three sides that workers can grip and use to maintain their balance while the platform is being elevated or moved. Standard units include a checkered floor plate that is designed to provide foot traction for workers while the forklift is moving the platform forward. The fourth side of most units features a 60” high expanded metal backing, although in California, OSHA requirements mandate an 84” backing, which you can easily obtain from your Easy Rack account manager.

The standard capacity for the average forklift work platform is approximately 1,000 pounds—more than enough weight capacity to allow you to lift several employees at once and to move them forward without mishap. Further safety features such as lanyards with safety harnesses, a harness or hook to further secure the platform to the forklift, and an emergency stop button kit and web can be ordered with your unit. Fork truck work platforms can be ordered in either new models or used models. Used models feature the same capacity and safety features as new fork truck work platforms, but can save you as much as 40% off your purchase order.

If you are concerned about limited space your facility, or if you want to invest in a tool whose operation and storage is maximized for ergonomic convenience, invest in the space saving, super efficient fold down forklift work platform. This unit performs in exactly the same way as our standard models operate, and it offers the added benefit of compact storage. One person can easily assemble the unit for use and fold it down again when finished.

Doors on either side of the fold down forklift work platform can be opened easily and closed securely with a built in latch. The fold down fork truck work platform features 60’ high expanded metal handrails and back to ensure personnel safety, and the platform also includes a tine lock like the ones found in standard models. When workers are finished with the task at hand, one person can quickly fold the unit down and store it with minimal effort, lost time, and space.

Easyrack.org. For more information on Forklift Work Platforms visit our section on Fork Truck and Fork Truck Attachments

LOS ANGELES - Amgen Inc has said on Friday it will pay Johnson & Johnson $200 million to settle litigation alleging drug discounts offered by Amgen to cancer clinics violated antitrust laws.

Mat Kelly

The rationale behind hiring a trade show model is simple – nail the first impression by leveraging the old advertising maxim of sex selling. And for years the trade show model was a staple, pulling show-going crowds towards booths and hopefully towards products. Recently, though, trade show models, or as they are more commonly known “booth babes,” have been going the way of the caribou. Case-in-point, the 2008 SHOT Show, previously known for its pairing of guns and babes, was so lacking in trade show models that Field and Stream Magazine was forced to pad their annual review of models with pictures of men sporting unusually long beards, and causing many readers to question, why are exhibitors messing with a good thing?

In 2006, the Electronic Software Association (ESA), the trade group behind the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) issued a press release stating that for the first time, the dress code, typically flouted by models, would be enforced. And by “enforced” the ESA meant a warning followed by a $5000 fine. Common motives associated with this new rule enforcement stemmed from the reputation of the trade show (previously described by IGN’s David Adams as “ribald”), the fear that the ESA was marketing sexually-explicit content to children, and the fact that the video game industry was reaching sales parity with Hollywood. There is, of course, a common thread between these arguments: the product didn’t need the sex, instead it needed to be viewed as professional. For the ESA, the video game had matured beyond the quick, impulsive sell that sex grants, and was finally a legitimate part of living rooms around the world.

The ESA was telling exhibitors to do something every trade show exhibitor should be doing anyways, they should be considering their brand. Whether you are an entrepreneur, an executive, or merely an employee, trade shows are worked with the explicit intent of drawing quality attention to your brand. The trade show exhibitor is there to build excitement that should ultimately turn a booth visitor into a repeat customer. The booth is a means to forging a lasting relationship on a personal basis. Working a booth allows a company to press the flesh and promote with a passion that simply can’t be found in traditional advertising. So, why would a company risk potentially isolating half the attendees at a conference with a booth babe?

Half? Well, close to it. According to a survey conducted by AffiliateTip.com, 70% of the female respondents and 41% of the male respondents (56% overall) said that they were less likely to visit a booth that used a booth babe. Conversely, 29% of the overall respondents said that a booth babe caused a null opinion, and a mere 15% said that a booth babe would positively impact their opinion of a booth. Perusing blogs will lead to an even larger mountain of anecdotal evidence that suggests that not only are individuals less likely to visit your trade show displays if a booth babe is present, but they are actually more likely to form a negative opinion of your company to boot.

Of course, not all trade shows are following the trend presented by the ESA, yet booth babes seem to be disappearing just the same. The use of booth babes at YAPC (Yet Another Perl Convention) sparked a thread on the Use Perl official message board regarding whether or not booth babes should be used at other conference. The quote that seemed to sum the experience up was “that is so auto show.”

The debate surrounding the use of booth babes even leaves the trade show, with various media outlets debating about whether they should continue to feature photos of the “best” babes, often opening up the discussion to readers. Tom’s Hardware, a forum and media outlet focusing on technology posed the question to their readership and the first response cut to the heart of the issue – juxtaposing the ‘for’ being juvenile and mainstream against the ‘opposed’ being adult and technical. Tech Republic, also opened the question up to their readers, and gathered likewise responses. It seemed that even the media was turning their backs on booth babes.

There is, of course, one final theory on why exhibitors were shying away from trade show models. At the 2006 E3, Disney was there presenting the video game tie in for their Pixar animated feature “Cars.” There between near-life-size examples of the film’s star cars was, you guessed it, a trade show model. The model in question was decked out from head to toe in skintight black jumpsuit, complete with plunging neckline and a checkered-flag racking stripe running up her sides, and covering just enough to show that Disney could play by the new E3 rules. Perhaps the world at large saw Disney’s display as truly jumping the shark and everyone simply moved on.

Whichever theory you subscribe to – maintaining an professional image, fear of isolating potential clients, or merely staying one step ahead of Disney, the use of trade show models are certainly on the decline. And as John Davis, editorial director for Ziff Davis Media Game Group told ABC News, “Not having the booth babes isn’t going to make any difference.” Instead, of babes, the new trend seems to be presenting your products in a professional manner, with booth workers who go beyond gimmick or sex and instead have a passion for your brand and a knowledge base to match. Guess which one leads to more quality sales?

Mat Kelly is the president of ExhibitDEAL, a leading provider of trade show displays, trade show flooring, and other trade show accessories. An environmentally friendly company, ExhibitDEAL can be found online at: http://www.exhibitdeal.com.

Ryan J Bell

It happens all too often: someone in your organization, browsing a trade magazine or industry portal sees an article on the growing trend of digital signage, or a case study on a competitor’s installation of a digital signage network. The piece goes on and on about how digital signage enhances the effect of marketing messages, assists in guiding desired behavior from clients, and has the ability to target different demographics based on time and location. In fact, the piece makes it sound like a digital signage network is the only thing keeping your company away from the success it truly deserves.

All of the above is completely true, and digital signage provides organizations like universities, hotels and retail centers with direct marketing benefits. However, when considering investment in digital signage it is important to take a step back from all of the potential benefits and make sure you can answer one simple question: what exactly is your organization trying to accomplish by making use of digital signage? If you cannot clearly identify the purpose of a digital signage network, if you don’t already have an idea of what content you would want to give to customers (or potential customers) if given the opportunity, then it will be impossible to achieve any level of success with the signage project.

Signage (whether digital or analog) has many uses outside of just delivering marketing messages: it can be used help consumers find their way, to give information on products and services offered, and even for video games and point of sale systems. If there is a primary need for this type of system in your organization then chances are you can safely begin to consider a digital signage system. However, if you are purely attracted to the added benefits of digital signage and are inventing primary needs that are not currently part of existing challenges, then chances are your digital signage project will not be a rewarding experience.

It is vitally important to the success of your signage project that you take the time at the outset to determine attainable goals which you want your signage system to fulfill. Getting input and signoff from key management in your organization will also help to create buy in, and to provide absolute direction on the project. Although digital signage companies are capable of great efficiency in the design, development and implementation processes, attempting to fulfill an unclear set of objectives which are constantly shifting will only create unnecessary expense and disappointment.

Although digital signage can fulfill very many marketing purposes in an efficient, attractive manner, it is very dangerous to get caught up in all of the benefits without being able to see the over-arching purposing of introducing this new marketing method to your company or organization. It always helpful to step back and reconsider the motives and goals behind your consideration of a digital signage implementation. Not only will this help to streamline the entire development and implementation process, it will also lead to more measurable results.

Four Winds Interactive is a leading provider of digital signage networks and software.

NEW YORK/PHILADELPHIA - InBev NV sweetened its takeover offer for rival Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc to $50 billion, finally luring the United States brewer into talks over a friendly deal, sources familiar with the situation has said.

Christian Garrington

Finding commercial property in London can be easy, with good advice. However, companies looking for an efficient office move often make mistakes, turning their office relocation into an unnecessary drama.

Some firms, at their peril, choose to not employ the services of a commercial property agent. Property agents are best placed to understand the dynamic of London’s commercial property market, they are aware of the city’s challenges and rewards, and place their client’s interests first.

To go ahead with an office relocation or first time rental agreement without a commercial property agents advice, can prove foolhardy.

Some companies think they can plan their office move ‘on the fly’ without allocating the right amount of time to the project. Managing an office move is a complex affair and is easily outsourced to a company who specialise in moving companies on time and on budget. By not looking for help coordinating office moves, firms are risking their own profitability. By ignoring the advice available to them, they risk losing competitive advantage over their rivals and placing undue stress on their own workforce.

In the property market, pictures may paint a thousand words but by not inspecting the new property in person, companies are risking problems. Before renting any commercial property in London, it should first be thoroughly inspected. Even new offices need to adhere to strict health and safety standards and relying on photographs rather than visiting with an experienced commercial property agent is asking for trouble.

Moving to new offices in London often heralds the success or expansion of smaller companies. By deciding on the first property they see and jumping in without considering the rental agreement, new firms can find themselves in bother, particularly as the economy is in a downturn. Rental agreements are vital for both parties and are best understood by experienced professionals. Rushing to sign away your first six months is a big mistake. Read the small print.

Describing London with words such as ‘big’ or ‘large’ fails to detail how truly vast the capital has become. It is one of the world’s true global villages and has an enormous amount of commercial property. A commercial property agent with a fully functioning website can save hours, if not days of wandering. Using an online service saves time, money and puts firms in touch with office specialists. Companies should need to look nowhere else.

Getting office moves right is not an easy task. The demands of running a busy company do not sit well with hours on end spent looking for commercial property for an office relocation. Therefore, taking advice is the best advice. Engaging a specialist with truly intimate knowledge of the current market gives businesses a major advantage over their competitors. While others are left floundering and complaining about their office move stood still, firms who decide to use a commercial property agent are moving their businesses successfully.

Shivani Gurtu-Louth - Operations Manager of Devono Property Limited. Devono are the only commercial property agents in London to exclusively represent tenants looking for office space and commercial property in London to rent. Our aim is to secure the best commercial property at the best price.

BOSTON - General Electric Co on Friday posted a second-quarter profit in line with Wall Street forecasts as its finance business recovered from a brutal first quarter, but the company warned those operations are not out of the woods yet.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wall Street and Washington wrestled Friday with how to shore up mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two troubled pillars of the economy whose failure would deal a devastating blow to the already crippled housing market….