Author: Shelley Murphy

Living in the modern world, showers have become more of a luxury compared to the ancient days in Greece where pull cord showers were taken outside and only a cold water supply was available due to lack of? plumbing.? More than a welcomed change occurred towards the latter part of the 80′s and into the early the 90′s when new technologies were introduced into the bathroom remodeling industry where bathroom suppliers saw a splurge in shower and bath sales, indicating more homeowners were looking to upscale their bathrooms.

Shower enclosures were popularized in part of the design boom with bathroom suppliers exhibiting sleek trendy designs.? Not before long homeowners were demolishing their existing bathrooms down to the bare walls, thus creating an increase in demand for home contractors and renovation firms brought on by the bathroom design frenzy. The emergence of shower enclosures became a key point of interest as it gave way to opening up a bathroom where the shower no longer had to be attached to the bath and only required additional plumbing be installed in order to accommodate the placement of the shower enclosure.

Today’s remodelers are going big and going all out when it comes to redesigning their bathrooms since there are far more design concepts available especially for the smaller bathroom.? Typically the average size of? a bathroom is approximately 130-140sq ft, according to the? National Interior Design Council when the new market trends came into play, homeowners looked to shower enclosures as a means to give bathrooms a more spacious appeal. A pivotal factor in helping revolutionize the shower industry was due in part to homeowners moving towards replacing single showers with? two-person showers and eliminating adjoined bath/shower units.

The desire for homeowners to express their individual design flare is largely expressed in the increased number of sales in relation to shower enclosures where people are looking to go beyond the traditional sliding glass door shower or shower certain. Since shower enclosures have undergone a tremendous change in the past several years, people are quickly discovering frameless shower doors and enclosures are all the rage and that taking a relaxing shower in one of these elegant easy-to-clean shower enclosures is an oasis of? sheer pleasure.

Staying with the trend towards openness and airy spaces, the eminent? range of? shower enclosure designs add a stunning appeal to any bathroom remodeling project, from frameless quadrant shower enclosures for an ultra modern look or uniquely designed frosted glass corner shower enclosure adorned in chrome or stainless steel.? The dazzling spectacle of? shower enclosure designs directly lends to the success of the bathroom and shower industry and has often been reported at times difficult for bathroom suppliers to keep supply in stock, indicating there is supply in demand and is on a steady upward climb.? According to interior designers with more homes being built, people are customizing their bathrooms prior to completion to incorporate the latest trends in bathroom d?cor with shower enclosures leading the way not only because of their timeless elegance, but are easily maintained and with everyone leading lifestyles that is an added bonus.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/shower-enclosures-are-all-the-rage-8347.html

About the Author

Written by Shelley Murphy on behalf of http://www.victoriaplumb.com/ an online retailer of bathroom furniture, steam showers, shower enclosures, whirlpool spa baths and bath related products serving the United Kingdom.

this question is for my aunt!,,,,,,, she has windows xp. and her screen shuts down after about 10 min. where does she go to change this option, to keep it on longer!???? thanks.

Author: Ryan Ginster

Have you always dreamed of owning your own business, having the time and money to visit exotic locations and being able to fly first class?

If you love traveling, live in or near a city with a large national or international airport, and you have the kind of lifestyle that lets you pick up and go on a moment’s notice, then you might want to think about starting your own business as an “air courier”.

What is an air courier? It’s a person who is hired to transport a specific item from one destination to another, within a specified deadline.

And, before you start imagining sinister men in trench coats carrying guns with silencers, and beautiful foreign women transporting secret microchips, let me reassure you that traveling as an air courier is 100% legal and aboveboard!

What you are asked to transport varies tremendously — it can be almost anything — legal documents such as letters or business contracts, children going from one country to another, medicine that was forgotten during a vacation, reports, computer disks, product prototypes — the list is endless.

In fact, because of the “instant gratification” mindset today where we are used to information and communication that travels faster than the speed of light, air courier companies have seen their businesses grow tremendously over the last ten years. What that means for you is increased opportunities for free travel.

Who can become an air travel courier? Anyone who is over 18, holds a valid passport and who is in good health. It also helps if you’re flexible and can pick up and travel on very short notice.

Why is this a wonderful opportunity?

When sending a package by air, the shipper has two options – the first is to send the package as “cargo.” Cargo travels alone (especially since the tragedy of 9/11), is shipped in bulk in large containers that usually aren’t sent until the container is full, in order to maximize revenues for the airlines.

In addition, especially when cargo is sent overseas, there are sometimes long delays getting the package through customs, there are endless regulations that must be followed, inspections that must be passed, etc.

For the air courier companies, who have to make sure the package is not only delivered, but reaches the intended recipient as quickly as possible, these delays are unthinkable. (If they don’t make their deadlines, then their competitors will. Think of the slogan from one such company…”when it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight…”)

On the other hand, if the same item is considered “personal baggage” and is carried with a ticketed passenger, it arrives with the passenger, and generally passes through customs quickly, without all the delays.

Plus, a person can book a ticket for a specific flight arriving at their destination at a specific time — not so for cargo. Which means that a shipment that could take days or weeks if it’s classified as cargo, can take hours instead because it’s classified as baggage.

Because very few of the air courier companies have the resources to employ full-time couriers, the industry itself has come to rely on freelance air couriers, which, even when having to pay someone to travel, and covering the cost of their airfare, is still a better ROI when compared against the paying full-time wages, holiday and sick pay, insurance and all of the other costs involved with having employees.

This is where you come in.

As an air courier, you are providing a valuable service in a growing market. And from the traveler’s point of view, you might find yourself flying to Paris one day, and Hong Kong a week later!

Once you’ve been hired, the process is pretty simple: the company contacts you, to check your availability. When you confirm, they book the flight and let you know when to be at the airport. You’re met at the airport by a representative, who gives you your ticket, a list of item or items you’re transporting, and your baggage claim tickets. They’ll usually even have checked you in, saving you many hassles. You get to sit in first class, and enjoy the flight. That’s it. You don’t have to contact the recipient in the city you’re flying to, actually pick up the package on your way to the airport, or do anything other than be responsible for it going from one airport to another.

At your destination, you’ll be met by another company representative, who will take the baggage claim tickets, and give you your return ticket.

How long do you get to stay? That depends on you and the air courier company. Sometimes your schedule will be tight – you may only get hours between flights. Other times, you’ll have a day or two. Obviously, as your reputation increases and the companies you work for know that they can rely on you, you have more room for negotiating.

There are several ways to get started. There are actually companies who recruit air couriers, and the fees for joining are usually nominal. The benefits of going through a certified company can be many. For example, they often provide information that it could take you a long time to figure out on your own. They also offer forums, newsletters and other resources to help you succeed. Because they have built a reputation, you might find it easier to get started in the business by working for one of them at first.

But, you can also find the information completely on your own, and start off freelancing. Look in the yellow pages for air couriers that are located near your local airport. Figure out where you’d like to travel to, and make a list of the locations they serve. Because there are companies who transport items both internationally or just within the states, where you travel is largely going to be a matter of personal choice.

Also, make sure that you investigate each company before applying with them. You want to make sure that they are a solid business, with a good reputation. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, get on the phone, and find out what their application process is. Many companies today prefer that you apply online. Whatever the process is, make sure that you provide them with all the information they request.

Timely tip: After submitting your application, follow up with a thank-you letter, on your new “company” letterhead. Remind them of your availability, that you can accept short or no notice flights. Find a way to position yourself above that of the other couriers.

Once you’ve gone through the process the first time, you’ll have a much better idea about which other companies you want to apply to and how to hone your interview skills. (So don’t make your first application with the biggest company that you want to work for the most.) Obviously, if you limit yourself to one or two companies, you’ll also be limiting the amount of work you’ll get and the locations you can travel to.

Timely Tip: Put together a database of the companies you’ve applied to, the date you applied, and contact information. Follow up with the company regularly, but don’t be a pest.

Once you’ve been hired, don’t be surprised if you start getting calls within the first couple of weeks. There is a growing need for professional, responsible air couriers.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you start working:

1. Be professional. Remember that while shorts and flip flops may be comfortable for vacationers, you’re working and representing the air courier company.

2. Often the only baggage you get to take with you is hand carried. Invest in microfiber clothing in basic colors, and learn to pack essentials only. If you do get to stay for longer than a few days, you can always pick up some essentials once you’re there.

3. Give your own business card to the company representative in the country you travel to, and make sure that your email and voice mail information is included.

4. Apply to all the companies you’ve decided you want to work for, and then follow up with the ones that haven’t contacted you regularly — perhaps a polite letter or even a one-page newsletter that lists the latest on industry related news.

5. Stay organized. Don’t over commit yourself, and try never to have to cancel a trip.

Being an air courier is a great way to make money and see the world. Bon Voyage!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/how-to-start-your-own-business-and-travel-first-class-for-free-3834.html

About the Author
Not long ago, I didn’t know ANYTHING about Internet marketing… However, within just 2 weeks, I launched my own website AND learned how to profit from an opt-in list, pull in sales with ezines, make money with Google Adwords and setup my own BLOG! Here’s how: http://www.PlugInProfitSite.com/main-10193 http://www.ginsterprofits.com

Author: Rumki Sen

Today’s job market is competitive. Many companies receivehundreds of resumes a year, making it difficult for yours tostand out from the crowd. However, that should not keep you fromgetting interviews. The following 10 tips will help youlearn how to get employers to read your resume and get yourphone ringing.

1. Include a profile

Begin your resume with a profile, which contains a synopsis ofyour varied skills and educational qualifications. This profileshould match the particular job you want to apply for. Stateyour career objective clearly so that the reader gets an overallidea of your background and areas of expertise. Write thissection in such a manner that it immediately catches theattention of a hiring manager, and he calls you instead ofsomeone else.

2. Keep the resume short

No one has the time to go through elaborate detailing about yourpast jobs and experiences. Therefore, keep the resume short.Make a list of the most important jobs you have held and give abrief of your previous job-oriented experiences. However, in thecase of technical people, resumes can extend to three pages inorder to include relevant technical information.

3. Give more importance on content than on looks

One of the major mistakes people make while creating resumes isin the use of fancy fonts. Avoid using fancy fonts and do notchange font regularly throughout the resume. Changing fontsregularly will distract and confuse a hiring manager. Do not useunderlining or italics to add emphasis. Make your document eyeappealing so that your reader can review it with ease. Use whitepaper and make the thoughts flow smoothly.

4. Clearly identify your skills

Do not be modest in mentioning your skills. Clearly identifyingyour skills will distinguish you from the other job seekers andeventually help your potential employers to select you from therest. Remember, all you have to do is to stand out from thecrowd.

5. List your educational and professional qualifications

Include any relevant education or training that might relate.Provide details of only those qualifications that match yourcurrent job search. This will help you to get short-listed moreeasily.

6. Focus on your job responsibilities

Starting with your present position or most recent job, mentionthe title of every job you have held, along with the name of thecompany, the city and state, and the years you have workedthere. Under each position, make a list of your jobresponsibilities. Use descriptive verbs, such as created,increased, performed, initiated, developed, led, improved orreduced to begin each statement of your duties andaccomplishments. Producing a document that is well presented,detailed and targeted will attract the attention of your hiringmanager.

7. Add related qualifications and interests

Think about anything else that might qualify you for your jobobjective and place it at the bottom of your resume. It mayinclude licenses, certifications, awards and achievements, andsometimes even your hobbies and interests if they truly relate.If you seek a job in a music company, for example, stating onyour resume that you are a pianist will increase your chance toget that interview call.

8. Be honest with your resume

If you did not actually do what you said you did, it would becalled a lie. Numerous surveys show that job applicants lie mostfrequently about education and employment, particularly aboutjob responsibilities and dates of employment. Hiding gaps inemployment and jobs where they were forced to leave by therespective employers is also common. There are many risksinvolved in lying, but many job applicants do not seem to getthe message about the risks of lying. Once you are caught with alie, you will be fired then and there. So, DON”T lie – be honestwith your resume.

9. Always attach a covering letter

A cover letter is a letter of introduction that highlights yourkey achievements and skills and entitles you for a job opening.It reflects your communication skills and your personality. Themain purpose of this document is to introduce yourself in suchan interesting manner that the reader will not only continuereading your resume but also be willing to call you for aninterview.

If you want to create cover letters for any career situation,position, and job level, I recommend a unique resume/ coverletter tool on the Internet today called Amazing CoverLetter Creator. I recommend this tool, because it solvesthe frustrating problem job seekers have when trying to write aneffective resume cover letter. You can use it over and overagain for all your cover letter needs.

10. Proofread your resume

After you have finalized your employment documents, check themrepeatedly for errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation.Spelling and grammatical errors can automatically disqualify aresume from consideration. If you make mistakes on youremployment documents, hiring managers might presume you will beequally careless on the job – no matter how important yourqualifications and experiences are. Proofread your resume andcover letter carefully.

Make your resume positive and completely error-free. If you areseeking two or three different positions, prepare two or threeseparate resumes, each tailored to the job you are targeting.Make your resume exclusive and unique so that it stands out fromthe crowd. Good luck for your career!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/resumes-articles/how-to-write-a-resume-that-stands-out-from-the-crowd-633.html

About the Author
Rumki Sen is the founder of Perfect Editing Solutions (www.perfectediting.com), a professional firm providing Resume Writing, Proofreading and Copyediting services. Contact Rumki Sen at rumki@perfectediting.com

Author: Danny Wirken

Online advertising isn’t quite the same as advertising anywhere else. On the web, ads are everywhere. In fact it is safe to say that the Internet is one gigantic billboard.

Online advertising also differs from regular advertising in that glitzy, gimmicky logos or images or even taglines don’t cut it. Usually, the people who use the Internet are looking for specific items of information and just tune out the various gimmicks that companies use for their commercials.

This may be because when the net was young and still mostly dial-up, the ads were banner types which were pretty but really heavy. Though broadband has now replaced dial-up, Internet users prefer ads that are light and easy and preferably unobtrusive to their research.

What is the same, whether you advertise online or offline is that people connect with people. In general, they respond better to ads that appeal to their values or feature something they can relate to. They relate better to commercials that feature people.

For example, if your product is about health care, they are more likely to respond to a doctor than to anyone else. If your product is about basketball shoes, they are more likely to respond to a basketball player. Basically, you choose a spokesperson that your prospective buyers will believe or listen to. The only exception to this rule seems to be celebrities. For some reason, people will believe almost anything celebrities say, whether or not they themselves are suited for the product or not.

Now, hiring a celebrity to endorse your product can be a really expensive thing. Most celebrities charge high, after all you are trying to ride on to their popularity. Their manager will make sure that they get the most out of being your commercial model.

Unlike regular advertising, however, there is a way to cash in on the popularity of celebrities without having to pay an exorbitant rate. They are called celebrity fan sites. These are sites about a celebrity that may or may not be owned or maintained by the celebrity who is featured. Usually these sites are run by a fan of the celebrity, hence the term celebrity fan site.

Here is a truth that artists who last long in the industry know. The fans control their world. The acceptance of the public of their image, their composition, their design, their performance determines how much money they will earn.

The fans are also the ones who search the Internet the most about information about their favorite, and some not so favorite celebrities. Celebrities are among the highest searched items on the net. Over 40 million queries about them are made a day.

Thanks to search engines, these celebrity fan sites get quite a bit of exposure. They talk about their favorite singer, actor, model, or athlete. They have interesting information that attracts even more fans of their favorite star.

That’s a lot of traffic that businesses can utilize. All the companies need to figure out is which ones of the many celebrities will their target group be likely to visit. This will help you get the necessary exposure that your product needs.

One way to look at it is as sponsorship. A lot of TV shows or segments are sponsored by various companies. They allow these TV shows or segments to stay on the air. In exchange, these shows flash their logos of their sponsors during commercial breaks.

Online advertising has an advantage here. Unlike TV where the sponsor has to wait for their commercial spot, online advertisers have their ads constantly on the page on specified areas. Visitors can see them all the time as they surf the celebrity fan site. Depending on the agreement, some sites will even allow the advertiser to have their ads on various pages of the site, so no matter where they travel on the actual site, they still see your product on display in a prominent area.

Putting an online ad on celebrity fan sites is a lot less expensive than paying for airtime on television. The cost is a lot lower and you get more exposure since you are not limited to just your national public. Keep in mind that the Internet is on a global scale.

These celebrities have fans all across the world. The celebrity fan sites, being on the net, have a global reach. If your business caters to the international market here is another reason why you may want to place your ad on a celebrity fan site.

People like to be in touch with people. They like to know what’s going on with their favorites. So of course, they will look up news on their idols and voila! When they visit the sites about their favorite star, there’s your ad. Isn’t that great exposure?

People often idolize celebrities because they see something in these people that they would someday like to achieve, whether it is a physical, mental, social or maybe just a financial thing. They long to be as beautiful or as smart or as attractive to the opposite sex. Some may just long to be as fit or as skilled an athlete. Whichever aspect it is that they admire in these stars, if your product is something that can help them come close to achieving that goal, they may just click on your ad.

You will need to do some research to find the best celebrity fan site on which to place your ad. You do want to get the most for your money and there are hundreds of celebrity fan sites out there. You are looking for the one that attracts the most number of fans who are also part of your target market.

If you find the celebrity fan site you like, make sure to check out the contact details of the site owner right away. Most of them will have a link on their site marked as “contact us”. Once you get in touch with them, you just need to negotiate for a prime spot on their site. Don’t wait too long! Other businesses want that spot.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/communication-articles/advertising-on-celebrity-fan-sites-40179.html

About the Author

http://www.theinternetone.net/CategoriesInternetadvertising_1.html

I already have my computers set up a certain way and don’t want anything to change – as far as the display goes. All my shortcut icons are set up and arranged in a very efficient way for myself so I don’t have to search for certain files/folders. Will upgrading to Windows 7 screw this up?

Author: Gary Shaw

You may have heard this before but you are going to hear it again. Online businesses need articles in order to achieve two things; customers and credibility. With this purpose in mind, it is no wonder why article marketing has grown in numbers from the time web site owners realized their full potential.

The power of article marketing is not lost among the many internet marketing strategies being used today. In fact, it is one of the most widely used. People who have not known the value of article marketing before are now turning their full attention to it.

But your articles will not be read if nobody notices it. This means that you can say goodbye to free exposure and surging profits. This is only the start. You also must hold your reader’s concentration with good quality article.

What are some of the elements needed in writing a successful article?

Researching before writing.

When most writers write their articles, they only write about what they want to be written. This is really not an effective way of writing an article.

The most effective and suggested way to write an article is to write about a topic that your niche market is already interested in. To know what they find, you have to do your research.

Research should be done before writing the article. When looking for topics for your article, you could go to forums that cover your targeted market. Be keen in observing what people are talking about or looking for. The best thing to do is find a problem. Then you can write about solutions to that problem.

By this, you are showing your readers that you can solve their problem. When you help people resolve their problems, you will build up your credibility. Once this is done, profits will be next.

Title of your article.

Choosing a title for your article should be considered as one of the most important decision you are ever going to make. Your title will determine whether or not your article will be read. Take the time needed to think of a creative and attention-grabbing title.

So far, we’ve uncovered some interesting facts about articles. You may decide that the following information is even more interesting.

The kind of title to use is the one that grabs the reader’s attention immediately and encourage them to read the content quickly. One of the more effective titles to use is to tell them about the benefits they will get when they read your articles. Readers tend to be more inclined to something they will benefit from.

The body of the article.

A lot of articles are filled with sales pitch or advertising. Readers are already wise to this technique. They drift away from the main purpose of providing information. These kinds of articles are deemed useless by readers.

Educating your readers is one way of assuring that your articles will be read. It brings more value to your content.

If you try to publish a poorly written article, chances are people will not read it. This will have an impact on your credibility and on any future articles you publish, so do it right the first time by educating them.

Article promotion.

If you want to make some profits with your article, you could try to promote your products or services at the end of each article. But you have to be certain that Make the product, service, or affiliate program is appropriate to the article. This is where most mistakes are made.

If you endorse a product, service, or affiliate program that matches with the article, your chances of getting a click through is very high. If you do not have a product or service that corresponds with the article, then it would be better if you find an affiliate program that does.

Article marketing can be an unstoppable profit producer, even if you or if you do not have your own products or services.

You heard it right. You do not have to have your own offering to take advantage of article marketing. All you will ever need are the three things mentioned above and you will be on your way to getting the audience you want and the profits you need.

These are the things that article marketing can do.

It never hurts to be well informed with the latest on articles. Compare what you’ve learned here to future articles so that you can stay alert to changes in the area of articles.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/online-promotion-articles/profit-getting-and-customer-building-article-marketing-57690.html

About the Author
Gary Shaw is the Owner of New Articles Hereand promotes Site Promotion Products , see more at www.garywshawsite.com

Author: Angie Noack

If you’ve ever been interested in selling products online, thisis certainly a great time to go into business. With more andmore online users everyday, and people becoming more comfortablespending and making purchases over the internet, there is a lotof opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to tap into this market.

Once you’ve selected your market and the types of products youwish to sell, you’ll need to choose an ecommerce softwareprogram that suits your needs though. Here are a few tips tohelp the process along.

What type of product are you selling? If you are going to takingorders for physical products that you package and ship to yourcustomers, the ecommerce software you need will be verydifferent than if you are selling digital products that aredelivered directly over the internet. Make certain the softwareallows you to offer pictures, descriptions, and choices ofsizes, colors, etc… if that is what you need.

Compatibility – Be certain your server or webhost’s server iscompatible with the ecommerce program you choose. Most onlinestore’s will want to have a secure connection, so make sure yourwebhost provides this option too.

Payment Processor – Make certain the ecommerce software youchoose can integrate with your current payment processor or theone you are planning to use. Most of the better programs allowintegration with all of the popular merchant account gateways soyou an quickly and easily accept and process payments via creditcards.

Support – Although there are several open source ecommerceprograms that work very well for small to medium size onlineshops, keep in mind that paid versions will usually offer fulltechnical support. This is an important consideration if you areserious about starting and growing your online business.

Search Engine Friendly – Many newer ecommerce software programsare search engine friendly. That means they create addresses andecommerce websites that search engines like google and yahoo caneasily ?read’ to see what’s in your store. This will increaseyour chances of your store getting listed in the search engines,possibly providing you with free traffic and more potentialcustomers.

We hope these tips will help make your choice of ecommercesoftware and bit easier.

Good luck with your new online venture

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/comparing-ecommerce-software-programs-5-tips-555.html

About the Author
Angie Noack is a home and garden strategist with a sharp edge for technology. With her unique ability to combine these two skills, she’s able to help gardeners save time and increase productivity. You can find her online at http://www.foodrose.com.

I have windows xp professional installed on my computer and every time when I start my computer, I have to wait for long time to computer to start up.
The windows xp black boot screen is too much delaying, the blue bar below its logo is passing around 10-15 times each time.
Is there a way to decrease its delaying? I mean to decrease that blue bar’s passing time to 2 or 3 times only?

Thanks a bunch!