Tech News

How hospitality can learn to live with Covid-19

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The Chambers Dictionary defines hospitality as ‘(friendly welcome and) entertainment of guests … a room or a suite where guests, delegates, etc are welcomed and entertained’. We are social creatures; for many of us, hospitality settings are the backdrop to our lives. Generation after generation has gathered to share key life milestones in restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and every other kind of hospitality setting. The global pandemic challenged the hospitality sector to its core, so let’s take a look at how hospitality can learn to live with Covid-19

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Adapting to a socially-distanced world

Hospitality was crippled when lockdown began in March 2020. Businesses closed with no idea when or if they would re-open. Many entered lockdown after a tough first financial quarter, adding hardship to an already brutal change in circumstance.

Businesses of all shapes and sizes rose to the challenge and adapted with ingenuity and grit, with takeaway and delivery services keeping businesses and communities afloat during a time of deep uncertainty. Experts warn that it is essential for hospitality to create medium- and long-term solutions for living with Covid-19, starting with solid communication.

Communication is key

UK Hospitality, the country’s top trade association, forecast that one million jobs would be at risk and one-third of the hospitality industry could be permanently shut down. Furthermore, the hospitality sector is likely to be the last to emerge from the financial fallout from the pandemic. As a result, hospitality faces a defining communications challenge.

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During lockdown, communication strategies focussed on logistics, such as how delivery and takeaway services would operate and keeping customers updated on radically different opening hours. Industry-specific experts, such as food PR agency staff, say that the focus must now shift to operations.

Businesses must address how they will operate and pivot their communications strategy to include their new operating models. Solid communications strategies showcasing new operating models, perhaps with the help of a food PR agency, will reassure staff and customers nervous of social interaction. Industry experts warn that without a clear operations narrative in their communications strategy, businesses will struggle to stay afloat.

Will hospitality survive?

The world is transitioning to a new way of living. Anyone who has worked in hospitality knows that part of the job is smiling through chaos and uncertainty. If any sector can reinvent itself and thrive, it is the hospitality industry.

Business, Business Management

Keeping your office space secure

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Running a business comes with some risks and having your premises broken into and important and expensive items taken is one of these risks. There are a number of things that you can do to help keep your office space secure.

  1. CCTV – consulting with a CCTV Manchester company, or one local to your area is a great option for providing your place of work with added security. CCTV Manchester Installers Red Dam, for example, can help with cameras for both the interior and exterior of your building. It is important to ensure that you follow all the regulations relating to CCTV and you can find these on the government website.
  1. Locks – having the right locks on your doors and windows is essential to help prevent people from breaking into your property and taking items. Depending on the equipment that you have in your building you may have different types of locks or multiple locks in some places.
  1. Security staff – shops tend to have security staff who work inside the premises to help prevent shoplifting but manufacturing businesses and warehouses also have security staff who tend to patrol the premises during the evenings. This is usually where high risk items are being stored or manufactured.

Having some of these above suggestions in place cna help to mitigate some of the risks of having an office space and of course it is incredibly important to ensure that you have the right level of insurance for your given busienss type.

Business

The Advantages of Cashless Payments for Your Business

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Cashless payments are one of the most successful methods of getting customers to buy products and services. This method of payment has enabled companies to use their credit card machines or an online portal for accepting payment for services as well as goods.

In the United States, more than 80% of the companies that accept payments with credit cards are using cashless payments. In some cases, the number of businesses accepting payments with a credit card machine is more than the number of businesses accepting cash payments. Cashless payments make it possible for you to concentrate on other aspects of your business. Find out about the benefits of offering an Online Payment Gateway at a site like https://www.sentient-group.com/merchant-services-products/ecommerce-virtual-terminal-online-payment-gateway

Before you get a credit card machine for your business or a system for making virtual payments, it is important for you to check out what benefits you can get from this equipment. There are different types of equipment to choose from including POS software and credit card terminals. You will find that there are different rates associated with the purchases you make with the card machines, so you should compare all your options before making a decision. You can also check out the types of merchants who will offer you special deals if you sign up for their programs. When you decide which option would work best for your business, you will be able to enjoy the benefits of cashless payments for your business.

Business

Why you need to choose the right domain name

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All businesses need an online presence to reassure potential customers that the business is real and has been successfully trading. It is important that the name used for the business’s online presence reflects what the company offers or is memorable for some other reason.

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Naming your domain

Selecting the right domain name is crucial for any business. Whatever your business name or the type of business you have, the domain should reflect this. Ideally, you should aim to have a domain that is the same as your business name to reinforce your brand.

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It may be that the domain you want to use is already taken; however, if this is the case, all is not lost. You can still have the name you want but with a different extension; for example, instead of .com or .co.uk, you could have the name with .uk, .io or one of some 700 different extensions. These include those that are industry-specific, such as .photography, .plumbing, .builders or .boutique.

The name you choose must be memorable, not too long, and ideally not include any word that has an alternative spelling or any numbers. It is important to remember that the domain you choose affects the reputation of your business, so you must ensure that you make the right choice.

Helping search engines to find your site

When someone searches for your business name or your type of business, you want to feature on the first page of the search results. Setting up the keywords for search engine optimisation (SEO) is especially important, as this will determine whether your site appears in the right place in the search results.

It is also a good idea to use keywords in your choice of domain alongside your business name, such as akgeorgebuilders.co.uk. In addition to including all the relevant keywords on your website, the title of the website must be relevant to your business, as this is looked at when a search occurs.

To help with your search for the right domain, contact a provider such as https://www.names.co.uk/domain-names. Your provider will also be able to tell you whether the name you have chosen is already taken.

Conclusion

In addition to your business name, choosing the right domain is extremely important so that your potential and existing customers can easily find your business.

Tech News

The Rise in Working from Home

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Working from home for some means you will be able to set your own hours, set your own pace and take control of the hours that work best for your personal needs. It will be easy to manage your own working hours and work at your own pace as you will have a flexible schedule. Although for those forced to work from home due to the current pandemic, it’s not always easy juggling 9 to 5 responsibilities whilst looking after the family!

One of the biggest problems most people have when they are working from home is finding a space where they can work, having enough room as well as minimal disruptions. Some people have thrived without the stress of the workplace and the long commutes, whilst others can’t wait to get back to the buzz of the office.

What this pandemic has shown us though, is that working from home is likely to become much more commonplace in the future than it has been. However, with this comes the challenge of internet connectivity and power supply. Large businesses and office buildings have contingency plans and back-up generators, for example, when power cuts occur. What does the home worker do when the electricity goes off? Find out more about Diesel Generators at a site like Gener-g diesel generators

It is a good idea for those who plan to work from home long-term to consider a back-up plan to ensure they have the support and infrastructure they will need in the event of a power outage, for example.

Business Management

How to Store Stock for Your Business

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If you have a store or are considering opening one, you need to know how to store stock for your business. There is nothing worse than trying to sell something when your inventory is almost depleted. A lack of stock means that your customers will either walk out or wait for days until they can get their hands on what they want. You may be able to get away with not having to stock much, but if you can’t even get items in stock, you aren’t going to have any customers.

When you go to store stock for your business, make sure you have the proper equipment and space. Have your supplies ready for customers so that they have enough to get what they are looking for and that there is no wait for the item. Don’t put your customers through more of a hassle. If your store does not have the appropriate products, then your customers won’t come back either. Find out about how Self Storage Highbridge can help at a site like Self Storage Highbridge company Leakers

It is also important to know how to store stock for your business. It is best to get it all set up right so that it is easier for you to keep track of it. Most people like to keep a journal where they write down how they are doing. This way, you can look at your progress over time and see if you need anything else. This will allow you to decide if you need to buy more supplies or not.

Tips and Ideas

How to Choose a Roof Repair Specialist

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There are a few things that you can do if you need help choosing a roofing contractor, and one of them is to consider the amount of experience that they have in roof repair, which will be listed on their website. You should also check out their insurance and membership of professional bodies. A roof repair company that has a great amount of experience will be able to handle any problems that may come up with the roof, such as water damage, hail damage, or fire damage. For help with Flat Roof Repair Bristol, visit a site like Aquagard flat roof repair Bristol

Another thing that you should look into is the type of work that they do. For instance, if you own a flat roof, you may want to see if the roofing contractor is experienced with this kind of roof. Also, if you have a gutter system, you may want to make sure that the roofing contractor is an expert on gutter maintenance, because there are times when you may have issues with your gutters. Finally, if you own a house or apartment that does not have a roof, you will want to make sure that the roof repair specialist is also an expert on building code regulations. This way, they will know how to properly install the roof so that the structure does not cause any damage to neighbouring structures.

The last thing you should do if you need some help choosing a roof repair contractor is to ask for references from people who have hired them in the past. These people will be able to give you a lot of information about their experience with the roofing company.

Tips and Ideas

The Benefits Of Organic Foods

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There are many benefits to using organic produce. One of the biggest is the fact that it does not require a huge investment in order to start seeing results. As with many aspects of health and wellness, research is still ongoing, but many people have found it to be extremely beneficial and have made the switch to organic for a variety of reasons. The benefits include the fact that it will save you money over the long run.

Organic foods are proven to show positive results with regard to the consumer’s health and with regards to the consumer’s long term health. Organic fruits and vegetables are generally lower in pesticides, making them less toxic to the environment. Organic produce has a much lower environmental impact because organic farming does not use as much chemical fertilizers and herbicides compared to traditional methods of agriculture. Find out more about organic flavouring choices with Organic Vanilla Extract from a site like Foodie Flavours, a supplier of fine Organic Vanilla Extract.

However, while the evidence that there is a benefit to organic foods is much stronger than other forms of agriculture, there is no scientific evidence that supports the belief that eating organic is good for the consumer’s overall health or even that eating organic causes anyone to gain weight. Still, even with these doubts, there is a general trend that people who are concerned about their diet and their bodies tend to be healthier and live longer lives.

Business Management

What is a Risk Assessment?

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If you need to conduct a risk assessment in the workplace, Health and Safety Executive provides guidance on the important steps to implement.

Identifying hazards

Every employer has a duty of care to adequately assess the risks to health and safety that their employees may face.

Hazards can be classified in the following categories as:

Mental – this can include tension of excess workload, delivering high-need prolonged treatment, intimidation or long shifts.

Physical – This may include the need to maintain awkward postures, trips, falls, excessive noise, dangerous machinery or lifting.

Biological – this includes exposure to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis which are a risk for certain workers in the health and care sectors, for example.

Chemistry – Exposure to aerosols, asbestos and cleaning chemicals. For Asbestos Removal Essex, visit a site like Sperion, a provider of Asbestos Removal Essex.

Checking those most at risk

An employer must also consider the role of their employees, the risks faced by contract and agency staff should also be addressed. The same thing can be said for assessing risks to visitors, customers, clients and members of the public who may enter your place of business. This assessment should include the location and the site where the staff work.

Some examples of potential hazards including home care workers and lifting arrangements in the home setting or home care clients. Supermarkets can have slip or trip hazards from spills or stock left lying around. Staff can also experience the aggressive behaviour of customers, especially on the night shift. In an office environment, workstation equipment can cause repetitive injury or vision problems.

Business

Tips for running a successful restaurant

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Running a restaurant is a complicated business and there may be some common problems that you will face that all restaurants struggle with at some point. There is a high level of competition and a lot of fine details to improve but by understanding what the problems are, you can prepare to face these challenges head on and with success. 60% of businesses fail within the first year so make sure that you are not one of those statistics.

Having a unique selling point is very important and helps to make sure your business is a success and is known for something special in your area. Top class food service and amazing customer service are very important, but you need to go one better than that and offer your customers a reason why they have to eat at your establishment and not another.

Customer service can be a sticking point for the restaurant. Customers will make their judgement on this, never mind how incredible the meals are. Bad service is always remembered! To prevent problems, make sure everyone hired in your business is trained in the company values. The same must be said of food handling training. For help from Food safety Consultants, visit a site like MQM, suppliers of Food safety Consultants

The menu is also an issue that needs careful consideration. Do you have a theme to obey? Is your food well priced? Do you offer too many or too few items to choose from? Getting a great menu is a balancing act. Try to keep your menu according to your unique selling point, or you can go way off track and offer customers a confusing experience.