Thursday, February 13, 2014

How to Make Your Company Stand Out in 2014



A desire to see their company succeed is something that drives almost all members of the business community. Whether the company is a large corporation or is family-owned, like the one Maurice Bouri works for, the formula is simple: customers = money. That being said, consumers are constantly exposed to new products and services on a daily basis. In order to stay competitive, it is important that companies learn how to make themselves stand out in 2014 and beyond.

Find or Create a Niche

In order to attract customers, you need to understand where they are and what they want. Prior to launching your company, take some time to scout out your potential competition. Not only will this give you an understanding of what you are going to face when you open, but you may also learn what the competition doesn’t have. If what they don’t offer is something you can provide, jump on it -- ensure that everyone knows through your advertising that you are able to fulfill that need.

Many industries are tough to break into; however, if you create a unique approach or niche for your company, then you may find it easier to succeed. For instance, if you have many talents that can easily be united into a single business, combine them. This way, you can offer one stop shopping to your customers. People are constantly moving, so the more they can get done with one visit the easier it is on them.

Create and Maintain an Online Presence

We are officially deep into the digital age. Even if you choose not to embrace much technology in your personal life, it is important that you do so professionally. The majority of society interacts with technology, either through their phone or online, at least once a day. Make sure they know where to find you when they need you.

After creating your website, consider creating a blog or allowing one of your employees to create and maintain one for you, as Maurice Bouri does for his company. Become actively involved in social media as a way to stay on top of trends and get a jumpstart on what your potential customers are looking for. Make sure to keep your online presence fresh so that current clients as well as potential ones will stay interested.

Helping your business stand out from its competitors is going to take time. Don’t become entrenched in one stale strategy and forget about new ideas and growth! Ensure that your potential clients know what separates you from your competitors and focus on those strengths.



Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Giving Building Materials a New Lease on Life



The idea of reduce, reuse, recycle is something that many of us learn from a young age. It is not only a good way to teach young children how they can care for the environment, but it is also something adults should keep in mind. As you look to freshen up your home or place of business this year, take some time to really look at the materials you are going to be replacing. If you are going to be using a lot of building supplies, you may even consider contacting Mark Bouri for assistance.

Recycle

Recycling is one way consumers of all ages can help reduce the amount of waste in landfills. Before you fill up the first trash bag or rent a dumpster to clear out the building, take a close look at the materials in question. Can any of them be donated to a charity or are they worth any money in terms of scrap? Charities are always looking for donations and will gladly take a wide variety of items off your hands. Certain products built in the past may contain a lot of steel or other metals that have since been replaced by cheaper materials. Instead of just tossing them, see if they could be utilized by someone else.

Reuse

Reusing or repurposing any items that are salvageable may make a world of difference to your next project. For instance, if you are looking to restore an older home back to its original glory, reuse as much of the original as you can. Not only will this help keep the history of your building intact, but it will also reduce the amount of waste created by the project.

If you have no use for the leftovers in your next project, but they are still in good shape, consider donating them to a friend or charity. You may even want to give them to an organization such as Habitat for Humanity, which can use the materials in one of their developments.

Create New

Instead of trying to keep an item in its original form, reuse it to create something new. For instance, Mark Bouri and his company are able to take environmentally friendly repurposed items and create new products and structures for their clients. This gives you an opportunity to place a unique touch on a project that may need just a little something more to help it stand out.

Becoming more environmentally aware is something we should all be doing. Whether you recycle small items or reuse large ones, take the time to give items a new life. It will give you a chance to be creative and help the environment!