Archives for July 2019

How to Keep Your Restaurant Relevant in a Competitive Industry

July 29, 2019 by


While running a restaurant and ensuring its success is never an easy thing to accomplish, it has become a little more challenging over the years, thanks to the steady stream of competition. Establishments that are unable to change with the times often suffer stagnation, which is more often than not a slow and silent killer. It can be heartbreaking to watch your business suffer and lose profit slowly throughout the months, and not understand how to make things better.

Fortunately, it is not something you have to suffer through in silence. There are plenty of successful establishments to take inspiration from, as you learn from their example to fight stagnation and remain relevant in a competitive industry. Here are just a few ways to spice things up and stay relevant!

Do not be afraid to make big changes to your menu

While you might think that the identity of your restaurant is based on your menu, it can be challenging to fight stagnation when you are making very little effort to improve your menu. It does not even have to be brand new recipes. For example, you can take existing recipes and merely switch certain ingredients with others.

Perhaps coconut cream would be an excellent way to provide those who have lactose intolerance a means of enjoying your recipes without having to look for another establishment. The same thing can be said about ingredients such as glace fruit, and many others. You would be surprised how many families would choose your establishment merely because you are willing to provide alternatives.

Maintain an active social media presence at all times

Keep in mind that your competition will not be sitting on their laurels as you work toward breathing new life into your establishment. They are likely gathering more support through the use of social media, as it does not cost anything to accomplish. You might try traditional marketing, but it can often be quite expensive when you consider everything you need to do. Ensure that you have an active social media account at all times and listen to the feedback of your supporters. All it takes is time and dedication – you will not have to worry about spending on social media marketing.

Your staff can make or break the situation

Last but certainly not least, your staff is your secret weapon when it comes to remaining relevant. If you have not treated them well, then it is likely that they have been treating your customers the same. Ensure that you acknowledge the hard work of your employees, and craft incentives to reward them for doing their best. Treat your employees well, and your customers will undoubtedly feel the difference.

To remain relevant in a business landscape littered with competitors, it is vital that you are willing to make changes to your menu and other critical aspects of your restaurant. The methods above will keep you relevant and ensure that you have a loyal following.

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/food-bar-restaurant-green-peas-4345904/

 

Filed Under: Talk Blog

Used Cars are Great Choices Too

July 28, 2019 by

You might hesitate about buying a used car because you doubt its performance. If someone already had it on the road for some time, you worry that it won’t offer the same level of performance as a brand-new car. Although the concern is valid, it doesn’t mean that all used vehicles aren’t worth buying. The truth is that if you’re diligent in looking for the perfect model, you will find one that matches your needs. Therefore, the idea of buying a used car isn’t bad, after all.

You will save a lot of money

Your primary motivation for considering a used car is that you don’t have a lot of money to spend. If you’re on a tight budget, it’s understandable if you don’t go for a brand-new car. It’s a more practical choice. Since cars depreciate quickly, if you drive a brand-new car for less than a year, it will reduce its value by up to 30%. For a used car buyer like you, it’s good news. It means that you can find quality options for a low price.

You can go through the same process as buying a new car

When you buy a new car, you take the vehicle out on a test drive. You can inspect both the internal and external aspects. Once you decide to buy the car, you know that it’s the right one for you. With used cars, you will also have the same opportunity. Therefore, you won’t have to worry that you’re going to buy a model that won’t perform well.

You even have other means to verify the quality of the car. It’s possible for you to take it to a mechanic or let the mechanic come to the showroom for a thorough inspection. You can also check the accident report and maintenance history to know if there are recurring repair issues. Once you have finished going through the entire process, you will know if the used car is worth buying.

You also have lots of choices

Just because you opt for a used car doesn’t mean you have to settle for limited options. You can find a lot of quality used cars that are available for different reasons. Some of them are for sale because the owner decided that it’s time to consider buying a new car. Others have needs which have changed, and they think that a different model would now be better. Some of these cars have not been around for a long time and are as good as new.

Be patient

As long as you’re patient when looking for the right used car, you will get what you want. You can look at different showrooms and speak with different dealers. Ask questions about the used cars and inspect the vehicles.

Once you’re confident that it will be worth your money, you can decide to sign the deal. If you still don’t have sufficient cash, you can opt for financing, which allows you to spread the cost over several years. You can consider Used Cars Evanston WY if you want the best choices now.

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/j0YPbvXu4t0

 

Filed Under: Lifestyle

The Advanced Skills to Seek Out Within Employee Hiring

July 16, 2019 by

When you’re constantly interviewing candidates and welcoming new people to your company, you may think you know everything to look out for. But just as quickly as technology and lifestyles change, so do people’s skills and qualifications, and it’s important to keep on top of them.

What was once the best qualification for your business’s needs may have been overshadowed by other, more modern and advanced training schemes. Those personality skills that were once viewed as key may not be as significant as a different soft skill that could bring a different dynamic to the business.

Let’s look at five key skills that are shining through when it comes to seeking out the best employees. If an employee can show all the below, backed up with examples, you’re onto hiring a winning candidate.

Managing ambiguity

At one point, HR teams looked for teamwork, communication and leadership as top personal skills. While these are still key, the ability to manage ambiguity is now an important one that recruiters should be looking for. It’s a less obvious one, but this skill is an essential one if you are looking for someone who can progress into management roles.

In a nutshell, managing ambiguity involves making decisions based on what information someone else has given, even if it is little or poor information. This comes with risk and uncertainty because the information tends to come from other people or untrusted sources. If someone can give examples how they handle this by can taking what they are given and using it to make the best decision, it is an invaluable skill.

Look out for this in particular if you are recruiting for the retail or hospitality industries.

Entrepreneurial skills

No matter what business area you are recruiting for, an ideal candidate will show various signs of entrepreneurial skills. If someone can successfully suggest ways to improve processes, discuss any gaps or spaces for opportunity in the market, or bring new ideas to the table in interview stage, it means they have an entrepreneurial approach.

It’s usually present with those who have studied business degrees at higher education, like MBAs, which train students about all areas of business in depth. From financial forecasting to curating marketing strategies, those fresh from an MBA qualification should be able to show their entrepreneurial skills, which are highly valuable to a business of any shape and size.

Look for candidates who have this qualification background and ask them about their studies during the interview. They may have studied online and worked it around their current or previous job, like this Suffolk course at https://online.suffolk.edu/programs/mba, which educates students to become skilled within real-life business.

Problem solving abilities

Every successful business tends to have a member of staff – or a group of staff members – who can problem solve, quickly and efficiently. During the interview stage, it’s worth asking a few competencies based questions that present a potential problem to the interviewee, and see how they take the information and turn it into a solution.

Things to look out for when assessing someone’s ability to problem solve is how they use creativity. Most people who are brilliant problem solvers tend to be creative, allowing them to look at problems in a whole different way, either intuitively or methodically.

An effective problem solver should also show signs of being a strong researcher, which is again an excellent skill to have. You could test both their creative and research-based problem solving skills by proposing two different scenarios and asking how they would approach them. Make sure one shows how they use their creativity, and the other how they approach researching.

Resilience

If a potential employee understands how to professionally cope with change, stress and problems, chances are they have resilience. Today’s fast paced industries means that work place situations can change rapidly, and not always for the best. It’s how an employee handles this and sets an example to other employees that makes them a key, resilient member of the company.

Ideally, a strong candidate will react quickly to change, accepting any modifications and communicating professionally where needed.

Analytical skills

Most companies are led by profit and growth, therefore anyone who processes strong analytical skills will be highly valuable for your business.

It’s not just the basics of analytics to look out for, it’s how they can work with different types of information, explore patterns and trends, and draw up meaningful conclusions from data.

Speed is also crucial in certain companies, so if you are recruiting for a position that highly depends on analytical skills, don’t be afraid to run a timed test. This will give you a realistic idea of how well someone can analyse figures and take them into certain situations, and to what timescales they can work to.

As businesses must quickly react to the changes in technology and media, it’s worth keeping your eye out for creative and social media skills too. If someone can come into your company who has an eye for digital trends, the importance of social media, and online marketing, they could be key as the business grows.

It’s all about drawing up a set of suitable skills relevant to not just the available role, but also the company as it continues to grow. Staff with varied skills that can stretch into other areas as the company grows are irreplaceable.

Filed Under: Business & Growth

Why You Need Therapy After a Big Move

July 8, 2019 by

Moving is not uncommon. In fact, the average person will move 11.3 times in their lifetime. In general, most of us see moving as adults as something positive. Maybe we got a new job, or we’re leaving our old town behind in search of a new job. Perhaps we’re moving to be with someone we love. It’s a change, but it’s generally regarded as a good one. It may feel weird, then, to hear that you could benefit from therapy after a big move. Here are three reasons why seeing a professional therapist is a good idea after making that big transition:

Emptied cardboard box with the flaps open standing on a wooden parquet floor conceptual of packaging, mail, storage, or removals

Moving is uncomfortable

Moving is necessary, but that doesn’t mean it’s a necessarily comfortable experience. When we say “comfortable,” we aren’t talking about finding a good apartment in a good neighborhood. That’s important, sure, but even the most luxurious apartment is still going to make you feel a bit weird and out of place at first.

In your old town, you were used to certain sights and sounds. You may have been used to your upstairs neighbor go outside to get the mail at 6 p.m., for instance, and potentially noticed your next-door neighbor ordered Chinese food every Friday.

In a new city, you must adjust to new patterns. That’s especially true if you went from a small or mid-sized city to a big town. Everything from parking to personal space is harder to find in big cities. Moving has a way of making you feel anxious or frustrated more often than you’d like. There will be plenty of times when you worry it’s obvious to everyone that you’re new in town and don’t really know what you’re doing. A therapist can help assuage those fears.

Moving can be isolating

As a kid or young adult, you have a lot of built-in opportunities to be social and find new pals. Often around your mid-to-late twenties, however, you’ll find that you no longer have the same proximity to potential friends as you used to.

If you’re lucky, the new place you’re living will also have a few familiar faces. But that doesn’t mean you’re going to be seeing them everyday. Weekly social events with the same group are also rare. If you tell an acquaintance that you’ve just arrived in town and they invite you out for drinks, it may take a month or two for you to actually meet up.

Then, there are ultra-competitive cities like Washington D.C. and New York CIty. People are obsessed with status and getting ahead in those places, so you may feel silly for trying to make friends in the nation’s capital while everyone else is trying to a statusy government job. Talking to a therapist in Washington DC can help you sort out your emotions. More than that, a therapist can help you with strategies for getting out there and being social in a way that is more likely to net you new friends.

It changes how you view yourself

We underestimate the importance of self-identity at our own peril. In your old town, you knew who you were. In a new place, seemingly everything about yourself is up for grabs. That’s exhilarating and also scary. An identity crisis in a new town is perfectly natural under those circumstances.

For instance, you used to be the person who got up and drove to work, but now you live down the street from a bus stop. Maybe you now want to be the type of person who gets up a little earlier to catch the bus into work and save gas money.

Moving is a way of saying “Who I am right now is not who I want to be.” You’re leaving behind the familiar in search of something that somehow improves your quality of life. Sitting down with a therapist and remembering why you made the move may help in those moments where you’re feeling aimless.

Filed Under: Health, Lifestyle

Why CBD Is Taking Over the World

July 8, 2019 by

These days, it seems like CBD is everywhere. It’s in newspaper headlines and in vape pens. It’s in cocktails and coffees. It’s being taken as a supplement by people all over the country — and all over the world. Just a few years ago, most individuals had never heard of CBD. Now, it’s all the rage. 

Where did CBD come from?

For years, CBD was just another cannabinoid found in the marijuana plant. The cannabinoids are the chemical compounds in marijuana that cause its various effects, but there are so many cannabinoids in marijuana, and CBD hasn’t always been the most famous. CBD’s cannabinoid cousin, THC, almost certainly has that distinction. THC is primarily responsible for marijuana’s famous high, so it’s understandable that it drew so much attention.

But as laws have changed and more research has been done on marijuana, there has been more interest in CBD. CBD does not appear to have anything to do with marijuana’s high, per se, but it does have an affect on the mind: Research suggests that, while CBD cannot get you high on its own, it can cause you to feel more relaxed and less anxious.

A changing world

Part of why more research has been done on CBD is that laws have been changing. Marijuana was once difficult to obtain, even for legitimate research purposes; now, with so many states hosting legal marijuana dispensaries, that’s no longer true. And even as marijuana legalization has helped bring new attention to CBD, a broader legal situation has helped it proliferate: CBD, unlike THC or unprocessed marijuana, is widely legal across the United States. There are plenty of places where you would be arrested for smoking marijuana, but can buy CBD at the corner store with no worry.

The fast-growing marijuana industry and the associated interest in hemp and other marijuana products is no doubt helping CBD. Because of its legal status, CBD is well-positioned to capitalize on the trend. For those outside of Colorado, Washington, and the rest of the legal-weed states, CBD is the best legal option for exploring the wellness benefits of marijuana.

CBD, ingestion, and design

CBD fans can take a dose in all kinds of different forms. They can use an eyedropper and a tincture, for instance, or eat gummies infused with CBD. CBD can also be taken with a slick-looking modern vape pen. A great vape pen can create a better user experience and make a product more inviting to new and returning consumers. 

Products and companies

The legal status of CBD has also allowed companies to step in and start creating products and brand names. Consumers don’t have to sweat the quality of their CBD — they can simply read reviews and rely on familiar and trusted brand names like SelectCBD. As a result, consumers can rest assured knowing that the products they are getting are safe and reliable.

From a consumer perspective, it’s easy to see why CBD is so big. Interest in CBD is generated by its beneficial health effects and, to be sure, its hip status as a marijuana-adjacent product. Combine that with the fact that CBD is easy to acquire and easy to take, and you have the makings of a health revolution.

Filed Under: Health, Lifestyle

How Online Casino Impacted The Gambling Industry

July 7, 2019 by

There are genuinely very few things that have impacted the gambling industry more than the meteoric rise of online casino, seeing brands such as 666casino.com rising up. It is honestly difficult to put into words how large the influence has been, without online casino the global gambling industry would be far worse off and completely different.

One of the main things about online casino is the ability to play it anywhere in the world providing you have an Internet connection. This relatively simple fact completely changed the game for hundreds of thousands of people across the globe who didn’t have access, for one reason or another, to any casinos or slot machines located anywhere else. Suddenly these people could play from the comfort of their own homes, and this immediately provided casinos – and slots in particular – with a massive newfound popularity. Let’s take a look at how online casino has impacted the gambling industry.

Popularity

Put simply, if it were not for online casino the gambling industry as a whole would be suffering from an ever-decreasing popularity. Before online slots’ rise in the early 2000s the casino was a dying institution in many places other than the typical hotspots such as Las Vegas or Macau. People just weren’t flocking to these places in the numbers that they done before, it seemed like the infatuation with testing fate was all but over.

Fast-forward almost two decades and the number of people gambling across the board has increases massively. Online casino, especially online slots, have made a vast contribution to this, mainly as a result of their increased cultural visibility. After the UK made the decision to heavily regulate the industry more and more adverts can be seen across media entertainment, hence the increased popularity of the whole market.

Financial Growth

You know what an increased popularity means don’t you? Yeah that’s right, a massive increase in financial growth across the gambling industry’s many facets. Online casino’s net worth exceeds billions of dollars every single year, it is absolutely ludicrous and has made the whole market far more lucrative. This is, of course, a good thing for casino operators and developers across the world, but it also impacts positively on us gamblers. Pay outs are steadily rising year on year, and we can only expect it to continue.

Technology

Some of the technology on offer these days is ridiculous, online slots have already fully embraced 3D technology, and VR is well on its way to being next. Of course, this has the biggest impact in the online slots sphere, but it all trickles its way down to other aspects of the gambling industry. For instance, many physical casinos will now have some pretty outrageous physical slot machines that have only been made possible by recent developments in the technology available. Online casino has impacted the gambling industry in an absolutely massive way, we cannot wait to see what happens next.

 

Filed Under: Talk Blog

Guide to Immortal Romance Slot

July 6, 2019 by

Delve deep into the world vampires with Immortal Romance, a slot game played in the name of fun, where you’ll find vivacious vampires and dark decor that come together in the name of love. Click the link to play it now, the fun awaits!

If you’ve seen Sabrina and Twilight, you’ll know the stakes are serious if you learnt anything about vampires, and in the world of Immortal Romance, in this UK slot game, those very same stakes apply.

Gameplay on this UK slot game

At random, between one and five reels will be bitten by the ‘wild desire’ and turned wild, which really gets the blood pumping through your veins at the speed of light – but just be careful the vampires don’t smell it.

Feel yourself immersed in the world of mystical alliances all throughout your gaming experience with Immortal Romance, with five reels all featuring a range of symbols including a classic lion door knocker made of brass and a magnificent Transylvanian castle. The lion brass head is not to be missed as it’s the scatter, multiplying all your wins by your total betting figure. As well as this, the maximum number of coins go up to a staggering 3,645,000.

Dark, dangerous, and deadly; the three words that can be accurately used to describe Immortal Romance, the game that will be sure to get any players heart racing – particularly for those among us who are into vampires, or one themselves, and Immortal Romance is hailed as one of the most popular games to play right now.

You’ll be forgiven if you end up thinking there’s something out there after playing Immortal Romance, once you land three scatters or more you’ll head inside to the Chamber of Spins, where you’ll find extra bonus features – four in total.

Immortal Romance special features

Amongst the vampires on watch in Immortal Romance, there’s Amber, who rewards 10 spins with a five times multiplier and the option to re-trigger, with Troy available on the fifth of this, giving you Vampire Bats if you spin 15 times.

These multiply symbols twice or three times, at random. Then, there’s Michael, another vampire who becomes available on the tenth trigger, rewarding you with Rolling Reels which can further scale up the multiplier up to five times, but only once you’ve spun 20 times.

One more Vampire, Sarah features on the 15th trigger and she’ll get you rewarded with the Wild Vine feature if you’ve had 25 spins, it transforms, at random, other symbols into additional substitutes if it lands on reel 3.

It’s got cash prizes to be won and you’ll find thrills at every corner, not hard to believe from a game that’s attracted the attention of thousands of gamers from across the globe since its launch, with impressive graphics and animations that bring the world of vampires and magic to life for gamers out there everywhere from the comfort of your own home, plus it’s easy to play as it’s available with no download.

Verdict

Developed by Microgaming, one of the most trusted names in the gaming industry, Immortal Romance is a great addition to their growing roster of successful games.

For more tips from the TrashTalkHC blog, check these out!

Filed Under: Tips

Being Fashionable need not be Expensive

July 1, 2019 by

One of the greatest misconceptions people have is that fashionable needs to be expensive. The reason for this misconception is that most fashion bloggers tend to write about the big fashion brands. The truth is, if you are making an average living, you may be discouraged if you assume that all fashion accessories are costly.

The more expensive brands make a lot of money. They can spend money on marketing, press releases and hold shows. Therefore, most of the information online will be spoon fed to those fashion bloggers.

Enough of that. How can you look fashionable without breaking the bank?

Make one investment at a time

When you have a little money to spend on clothes and shoes, do not go for the cheap stuff that you see while you shop. Choose one nice stuff at a time and go with it. It is best to go for one that is not too, but that will last that several cheap ones that will not last for as long as you need them to.

Do a review of what you have

People tend to accumulate things and sometimes end up holding on to things that are rarely used. Therefore have a good look at what you have and make a list. Do you have too much pink and no blue? Do you have hundreds of clothes but none are the 21st century?

What about your shoes? Choose the clothes that fit the vision you have for yourself. You may want to take one day off and try on all the clothes. Get rid of all the things that are not great or that do not fit.

If you find that the items you no longer use still look great, consider selling or trading them. This way, you will create enough money to buy the clothes that will suit your style a great place to sell your items is eBay.

Material quality

Knowing the quality of the jewelry, you intend to buy is very essential. The market is flooded with different wristwatches of different designs and quality. With consideration of your woman’s style, it will be easy to find the ultimate diamond rings for women that she will be proud of.

Therefore you must ensure that the material fits your style, dress code, and makeup. If you are buying the watch as a gift to a friend, ensure you understand their taste and favorite colors.

Design

Designer pieces for women are loved worldwide give every woman a classy appearance. Taking into consideration the type of watch design is very essential. This will help you eliminate all the possibilities of getting confused by the different options.

However, not all designer pieces are suitable for certain fashion styles. Some may have an admirable design but have a poor construction style.

Price

It’s easy to get overpriced for a watch that is of low quality or does not meet the qualities of your best watches. Watch prices vary with style. Vintage watches are commonly overpriced but work great to ensure that the woman’s taste is diversified. Doing a deep research on different watch will give you a standard price that you can trade for.

Occupation

When buying a watch for your girlfriend or yourself, your occupation must be considered. Occupation determines her dress code and style. This will also help you choose the right design of the jewelry with notable colors. Women, who work in an official environment, will need a stylish watch that does not outshine your style or does not diminish your dress code.

Conclusion

Shopping for a watch that you will love and never get bored of is not easy. This can be a very complicated task. However, with these tips it is difficult to make mistakes. Plan and do a detail research without overlooking minor details. Additionally, be flexible and open to changes in case you buy the wrong watch. The process may not be a smooth one but it will be a worthwhile journey.

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Filed Under: Lifestyle