Summer is the perfect season to kick back and relax, and even in corporate culture, it’s a great time to (appropriately) party. If you’re in charge of planning a corporate summer party in the southeast corner of Florida, event planners in Miami will help you pull off a successful summer blast. Here are a few ideas that they can assist with.

Beach Party

Spend a summer afternoon with everyone on the beach, enjoying the sand, waves, and cool refreshments. Miami’s beaches are perfectly suited for this classic summer event, and a corporate beach party can have a lot more going on than a small get-together that people might throw with family or friends.

Miami event planners Twenty Three Layers note that securing a place on the beach that’s large enough for a corporate party can require some legwork. Not only must you find a suitable location, but sometimes reservations and/or permits are necessary. An event planner can help research all required documentation and make sure the red tape is taken care of.

In addition to helping secure a location, an event planner can also assist with the more major things that could make a corporate beach party stand out. Whether you want an organized volleyball tournament, live DJ, jet ski rentals, or private boat charter, they can work with you to brainstorm ideas and make arrangements.

Brand-Name Party

No matter where your corporate summer party takes place, making bringing in a major brand can make everything more recognizable. Free swag is something that everyone appreciates, and many brands have other equipment or supplies to add to a party. Depending on the agreement, they might even take care of some of the planning.

Event planners are essential when working with major brands. Many brands won’t want to work with anyone outside the event industry, because pulling off a major event between multiple organizations requires experience and expertise. The Miami event planners Twenty Three Layers have worked with many different companies that have sponsored corporate events.

Private Film Showing

For an evening corporate event, set up a projector and screen to show a movie outdoors. Offer freshly popped popcorn and other refreshments, and at least older employees will reminisce of the old days of drive-ins. Just make sure there’s time to mix and mingle before the showing starts so that people have a chance to see each other.

Again, an event planner can assist with both finding a spot for your private film showing and with setting up equipment. They’ll know how large a screen you need to ensure everyone at the event has a good view.

Twenty Three Layers are event planners in Miami that specialize in corporate events. They also have locations in New York and Los Angeles. For wedding planning services, learn more about the 23 Layers sister company Neon River Weddings.  

Packaging is the first thing a consumer sees about a product. This is why the design and approach to packaging is vital. With the increase in eCommerce sales, packaging can make or break a sale among the competition.

Packaging can be a great opportunity to create customer loyalty with customers as well as build brand awareness. Customer loyalty can be defined as when a customer has a positive connection with an organization. As that connection grows, customers will likely retain your business over customers. If you are interested in learning how to make your packaging stand out, make sure to check out the resource below.

Infographic created by Chicago Tag & Label, a barcode label manufacturer

As Coronavirus swept the country in 2020 – and as civil unrest became a major talking point in the Presidential election – gun sales skyrocketed. The FBI says it processed nearly 40 million background checks – 10 million more than 2019 and more than any year on record. A record-setting 8.5 million of those gun sales were transacted by first-time buyers, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Some data suggests that up to 40% of purchases went to new buyers. It was previously “anti-gun” demographics – young adults, those who politically identify as liberal, and minorities – who became gun owners in the face of uncertainty and civil strife.

The Coronavirus pandemic shot the proverbial starting gun that began the rush to firearm ownership in March 2020. Police officers became infected with the virus, departments stopped responding to some 911 calls to prevent the spread, and discussions of releasing inmates led to concerns of personal safety during the pandemic. Historically, gun sales rise during presidential election cycles, and the inevitable discussions about firearm ownership and new gun control continued driving sales through the year’s end and into fiscal Q1, 2021. The NSSF reports that in 2020 the firearms and ammunition industry was responsible for as much as $63.48 billion in total economic activity. That’s in addition to a record-setting $19.3 billion in industry wages recorded last year, spread across an estimated 342,000 jobs.

 All this sums up one theme for this year and at least the next three: The gun industry is burgeoning, even contributing to economic recovery and it’s buoyed by new buyers and low supply which is, counterintuitively, driving demand for guns and ammo even higher. Couple this with a Democratic President who on the campaign trail promised “common-sense gun reform,” and you wind up with firearm manufacturers and retailers simultaneously seeing unprecedented sales while anticipating potentially dramatic restrictions being placed on the very goods they sell. Experts agree that gun sales, while not as high as 2020, will remain elevated throughout 2021.

As Americans receive their Covid-19 vaccines and the country begins a return to some sense of normalcy, it is now Biden’s recently announced gun control proposals and a shortage of manufacturing material that is keeping demand for guns high. The president’s proposals, if implemented, would constitute a major reduction in total manufacturing and job loss in the gun sector: Biden announced his wish to reinstate the 1994 assault weapons and high-capacity magazine ban, which expired in 2004.

The ban would target weapons like the AR-15, which many consider to the most common sporting rifle now sold in the U.S. The NSSF estimates that around 20 million models of the rifle are currently owned, with millions more produced and sold each year. Biden went a step further with this second iteration of the ban, targeting AR-15 build kits and part skits. Although the administration has suggested existing owners would get to keep their firearms, passage of the ban would effectively end the sale of the rifle and many other semiautomatic rifles that now comprise a large portion of annual gun sales in the U.S.

Some of Biden’s more impassioned gun control promises make reinstatement of an assault weapons ban look mild: On the campaign trial, the President expressed his intent to effectively shutter the entire online firearm and ammunition sales market. Although figures aren’t available, many gun shop owners have commented the bulk of their sales are now conducted online. If Biden’s plans were implemented, this would eliminate a significant portion of the more than $13.5 billion in annual revenue the gun industry rakes in each year.

At least some version of this campaign promise is being reviewed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) at the direction of the current administration: ATF officials are reviewing the definitions of a firearm currently applied to enforce federal gun laws and ATF policies, with expectations of “enhancing” such definitions to affect a ban on certain gun-making kits and firearm receiver blanks.

With retail gun dealers and brick-and-mortar stores all but hosting empty shelves, gun owners have turned to fabricating their own firearms using components that, individually, are not considered firearms. It’s a practice little known to anyone but enthusiasts until recently, though long held to be legal under the Gun Control Act of 1968. Any individual who may otherwise legally own a firearm can assemble, for personal use only, a firearm “from scratch.” Often using receiver blanks called 80% lowers, amateur gun builders have fabricated these components into working receivers to build firearms at home for years. But with more gun owners turning toward the practice in a market that’s been dry on ready-to-buy retail guns for months, the Biden administration is seeking their prohibition.

Inversely, all the talk of prohibition has simply caused more gains in the industry’s market, particularly for investors. After Donald Trump took office in early 2017, the market saw a three-year slump. It was only in 2020 that background checks surpassed all prior years’ data and for investors, it has been a boon. Smith & Wesson Brands (NASDAQ:SWBI) reported sales surging 141% in Q2 2020, bringing in $229 million. Gross profit margins expanded 330 basis points (3.3%) to 42%. Sturm, Ruger (NYSE:RGR) saw an increase in sales of 53%, with earnings per share shooting up by five times to $1.39 per share.

The ammunition sector is seeing gains, too. Vista Outdoor (NYSE:VSTO) who owns Federal and Remington ammo brands, are seeing sales surge by 26% or more. Olin (NYSE:OLN) who owns Winchester, says that sheer volume and the better cost of goods sold it brings caused profits to soar 51%.

Whether the firearm industry continues to balloon is thus entirely dependent on the Biden administration’s success in implementing its gun control proposals – and whether (or really, how much) the market shrinks if any of the president’s proposals make it through ratification and the inevitable appeals.

For small and medium businesses, it often feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day or enough money in your budget. You want to grow at a reasonable pace, but there are things holding you back. If you feel that you need to save some time or stretch your budget further, outsourcing is the ideal solution. Some might be reluctant to outsource, wary of handing over control of any process to someone else. However, outsourcing doesn’t mean giving up control. You can still maintain oversight over essential tasks while getting assistance to grow your business.

If you’re not sure which business functions would benefit from outsourcing, try these.

1. Marketing

Marketing can be expensive, and one of the greatest expenses is hiring marketing staff. One marketing executive can only do so much, but many businesses can’t afford to have a whole marketing department or team. Outsourcing your marketing saves you a lot of money and time while giving you access to multiple marketing experts. It can also be an excellent choice if you’re looking for an outside perspective. Even large businesses use external marketing companies if they’re looking for insight from others. Outsourced marketing is easy to scale too, making it possible to do quickly.

2. IT Services

IT infrastructure is often difficult to manage entirely in-house. It’s costly to have a whole IT department and out of reach for many smaller businesses. Choosing to outsource your IT services can save significant amounts of money for your company, not to mention certain IT providers offer a free IT audit to help new clients find out how to better their IT infrastructure. 

It also makes it easier to assess and provide for the technological needs of your business. Most businesses don’t want to spend any longer focusing on their IT than necessary, and handing it over to another agency to handle can be much more effective. Outsourcing ensures everything is taken care of for much less money and saves time too.

3. Administration

There is a huge amount of admin tasks that are very time-consuming. You don’t want to spend your time doing admin, and your team is probably more useful doing other tasks too. Outsourcing some of your regular administration processes allows for more time to focus on your core business activities. You can hire a virtual assistant or an administrative agency to handle some of these important admin tasks. They can help with all kinds of requirements, from answering emails to typing, data entry, or arranging meetings, while you concentrate on other things.

4. Accounting

Many businesses have no need for a full-time accountant or an accounting department. Instead, you might just need a service to handle your everyday bookkeeping and make up your accounts for you when it’s time to file your taxes. There are many accounting and financial processes that you can outsource for the benefit of your business. Outsourcing payroll is a popular option and can save you plenty of time and money.

Outsourcing is a smart decision to make for your business. You can focus on your core activities and let others complete the tasks that you don’t have time for.

Alcohol-based hand disinfectants may be a commonly used item these days, but as far back as 2010, a study published in the journal, BMC Infectious Diseases, showed that the simple placement of this product in business could reduce illness and absenteeism among staff. Findings also indicate that disinfectants could reduce symptoms of illness among participants who did not absent themselves from work. The study is just one of many that reveal the many benefits that can be obtained by prioritizing cleanliness, tidiness and hygiene within an office setting. If you manage an office, then professional cleaning and the adherence to a regular schedule are vital so as to ensure the health and wellbeing of employees and business owners alike.

Achieving Business Goals With The Aid Of Cleanliness

Cleanliness has a powerful impact on the productivity of employees – as found in a 2016 study by M Horrevorts and colleagues. The study found that cleanliness correlates significantly with a higher perceived employee productivity, and with a higher level of work satisfaction. It also showed that employees felt the same – those providing measurably higher hygienic work spaces to staff also perceived that employees performed to a higher standard. The researchers concluded that employers should “carry out regular cleaning activities in the office environment where the employees perform their work.”

Top Spots For Germs In The Office

Whether you hire a professional cleaning service or cleaning chores are shared (as might be the case in a small business) it is important to be aware of where germs settle in offices. Top spots include faucet handles: a study by Kimberly-Clark found that 75% of all break room faucet handles carried a high risk of spreading illness. Additional dirty surfaces include microwave handles, headsets and microphones, vending machines and water fountain buttons or handles, and keyboards and mouses. When working out which areas need special attention, make a list of surfaces that are likely to be touched by a large number of people. In your office, this may include refrigerators, handrails, soap sanitizers, and door handles.

Investing In The Health Of Your Team

In addition to ensuring that your office is cleaned according to standard hygiene requirements and schedules, there are many additional ways to boost productivity. These include reducing clutter (to reduce the likelihood of falls, injuries, and work dissatisfaction), improving the air quality, and ensuring your office is flooded with natural light. Research undertaken by the World Green Building Council, for instance, showed that employees showed an 11% rise in productivity through the introduction of fresh air and the reduction of toxins in the workplace. To achieve this aim, consider bringing indoor plants, a HEPA filter, and a green cleaning protocol into your workplace.

Study after study has shown that employees working in clean, tidy workplaces are more productive. They also enjoy greater work satisfaction, and their employers perceive their performance more positively. Clean offices are only one part of the ideal health and wellness equation, of course. Other areas needing priority include air quality, which can be achieved through greener cleaning practices and the elimination of causes of indoor pollution, such as pressed wood furniture.

In 2016, the small business Death Wish Coffee Company got countless calls and online orders because their ad was aired during the Super Bowl. Showing up on the Super Bowl commercials is exciting, but it comes with a very high price – it can be millions of dollars for a 30-second ad. 

The good news is that your business doesn’t have to appear at that kind of event to become successful. Follow these six affordable and easy ways to get your business noticed. 

1. Build a Website

Websites are the foundation of digital marketing strategy. It’s a place to put your content, showcase products or services, and develop an online presence on search engines.  

Nowadays, setting up a website is no longer intimidating. 

First, register your domain name and purchase a hosting plan. There are plenty of hosting companies that provide affordable hosting services with free domain registration. Then, start building the website with WordPress or a website builder.

The main benefit of using WordPress for business is that it is free and customizable. Meanwhile, drag-and-drop website builders always come with a monthly subscription.  

2. Publish a Business-Themed Blog

With the right blogging strategies, a niche audience will find your content through search engines and perceive your business as the industry leader. This aligns with the fact that most people prefer learning about a brand through content than ads. 

Share niche-related information or company stories. Todoist’s blog is a great example. The to-do list app doesn’t only write their app tutorials but also publishes articles on time management and remote-working, which is relevant to both their brand and target audience.

3. Use Google Tools

Getting noticed on Google search results organically can be a challenge. However, Google itself  provides several tools to help you get there:

• Google My Business. Generate leads and build a business presence on Google Search and Maps with business details and photos.

• Google Trends. Stay up-to-date when it comes to the industry trends and evaluate specific keywords for your content. 

• Keyword Planner. Find out detailed information about relevant keywords, average monthly searches, and the competition. 

• Google Alerts. Get notified on particular queries like mentions of your brand or competitors. 

4. Create High-Quality, Shareable Content

With so much information on the internet, it’s essential to make sure your content is high-quality and outperforms the competition. 

Here are the criteria for high-quality content: 

• Original. Has never been published before and passes the plagiarism checker. 
• Unique. Offers different perspectives by researching and filling in the gap within the existing content. 
• Relevant. Touches on the target audience’s interests.
• Readable. Has proper grammar and spelling. Also, it is scannable through the use of headings and bullet points. 
• Appealing. Uses images or videos to make the content more varied and interesting. 

To help visitors easily share your content, make sure to integrate social media buttons on your blog posts.

5. Promote on Social Media

An effective way to promote your business on social media is by using hashtags. They help users find your content when they use relevant keywords. 

Be respectful by applying only related hashtags to your posts, and don’t overload them. Try to keep the number up to 11 hashtags per post because more than that can look spammy. 

Also, combine general hashtags with a branded hashtag for your business to distinguish yourself. Good examples of this practice is Oreo came up with #OreoHorrorStories and Coca-Cola that uses #ShareACoke.   

Also, maintain a consistent posting schedule as social media algorithms favor active accounts. A rule of thumb is to avoid publishing more than two daily posts and incorporate Stories instead. 

6. Build Your Network

Attend networking events, like conferences and business training. It helps you connect with future partners or prospective customers. There, highlight who you are, what you do, and what makes your company stand out. 

Try to sign up as a source on Help a Reporter Out (HARO), a publicity service linking you with reporters. The platform will send out several newsletters a day containing a specific query to be answered by the experts – you. To build credibility, ensure you respond to queries that match your expertise. 

Conclusion

With those marketing strategies, you will start getting noticed even without spending much on your marketing budget. Feel free to copy the tactics or tweak them to fit your target audience and business model. 

If you’re planning to grow your business, one of the things you will need to do is expand your business resources. Around 54 percent of small business owners use their own vehicles for business purposes, according to a Manta survey. In fact, it’s not uncommon for small business owners to mix personal and business assets during startup – particularly since over half of businesses are run from home. However, as your business grows, there may be increasing signs that it’s time to invest in a business vehicle. So how do you know that it’s time to get a business vehicle? The answer’s relatively simple: by answering a few critical questions about your current and future business resources.

Are You Planning To Take Your Business And Brand On The Road?

A business vehicle can be a useful vessel for business branding. Of course, it also involves deciding on the best way to represent your branding with graphics, logos, and business colors. There is a thin line between artful vehicle business branding and having your business vehicle viewed as a local eyesore. 

Ideally, you should keep your vehicle branding design simple and impactful by including things like your business name, contact information, and specializations. Keep in mind that potential customers will only have a glimpse of your business for a few seconds. You don’t want to leave them overwhelmed or confused with too much information.  However, if you’re not looking to garner interest or amp up your promotional efforts, it may affect whether you buy or lease a vehicle – and the kind of business vehicle you choose.

Can Your Business Finances Handle The Full-Time Fiscal Responsibility?

Buying a business vehicle comes with additional financial responsibilities. Not only will your business need to pay a purchase price (or acquire a loan to purchase it), but your business will also incur annual maintenance costs, repairs, fuels, and the cost of an additional employee to drive the vehicle. If your plans do not include full-time use of the vehicle, it may be worth considering whether it is financially prudent to add another full-time employee salary to your payroll. 

There will also be parking charges, auto insurance premiums, and interest rates to consider if you opt to buy. In some cases where constant or long-term use is not required, it may be better to lease a vehicle. Take a look at your budgets and budgetary forecasts before deciding whether your business cash flow can handle the added running expenses of a business vehicle. The kind of vehicle you choose to buy will also factor into your finances. Different models and types of vehicles will come with different cost features, such as fuel economy, insurance categorization, and added amenities. The use of industry and consumer reviews on vehicle models you are considering can help you narrow down those costs.

Does A Business Vehicle Fit In With Your Growth Plans?

Last (but certainly not least), think about how a vehicle fits into your business plans. For instance, if you’re planning to expand your delivery radius or bring delivery in-house to realize cost savings, then securing a business vehicle makes more sense. Some business owners may also opt to purchase a business vehicle to capitalize on the tax advantages of owning a business vehicle. The key here is to determine whether you have enough reasons for a business vehicle, and whether it aligns with your growth plans. Adding a vehicle to your business can be a good move for growing your business – if it is the right one. Before taking on such a financially intensive business decision, you need to be sure that it aligns with your overall business purpose and financial reach. For some, buying a business vehicle outright may be the answer, but for other business owners, leasing a vehicle may be best. The only question is: which option is better suited for your business?