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SEP Retirement Plans For Small Businesses
Looking for an easy and low-cost retirement plan? Why not consider a SEP?
Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plans can provide a significant source of income at retirement by allowing employers to set aside money in retirement accounts for themselves and their employees. Under a SEP, an employer contributes directly to traditional individual retirement accounts (SEP-IRAs) for all employees (including themselves). A SEP does not have the start-up and operating costs of a conventional retirement plan and allows for a contribution of up to 25 percent of each employee's pay.
Advantages of a SEP
- Contributions to a SEP are tax deductible and your business pays no taxes on the earnings on the investments.
- You are not locked into making contributions every year. In fact, you decide each year whether, and how much, to contribute to your employees' SEP-IRAs.
- Generally, you do not have to file any documents with the government.
- Sole proprietors, partnerships, and corporations, including S corporations, can set up SEPs.
- You may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $500 per year for each of the first 3 years for the cost of starting the plan.
- Administrative costs are low.
The Social(k) SEP IRA is through Folio Investing. Accounts are $25 annually per person. Trading costs vary. Ready-To-Go Folios no load, $4 trades or $290 annually for Unlimited Plan.
You do not have to contribute every year. When you contribute, you must contribute to the SEP-IRAs of all participants who actually performed work for your business during the year for which the contributions are made, even employees who die or terminate employment before the contributions are made. Contributions for all participants generally must be uniform—for example, the same percentage of compensation.
Employee – An "employee" is not only someone who works for you, but also includes you if you receive compensation from the business. In other words, you can contribute to a SEP-IRA on your own behalf. The term also includes employees of certain other businesses you and/or your family own and certain leased employees.
Eligible Employee – An eligible employee is an employee who:
- Is at least age 21, and
- Has performed service for you in at least 3 of the last 5 years.
All eligible employees must participate in the plan, including part-time employees, seasonal employees, and employees who die or terminate employment during the year.
Your SEP may also cover the following employees, but there is no requirement to cover them:
- Employees covered by a union contract;
- Nonresident alien employees who did not earn income from you;
- Employees who received less than $550 in compensation during the year (subject to cost-of-living adjustments).
Compensation – The term generally includes the pay an employee received from you for a year's work. As the owner/employee, your compensation is the pay you received from the company. Employers must follow the definition of compensation included in the plan document.
Establishing the Plan
There are just a few simple steps to establish a SEP.
Step 1: Contact a retirement plan professional or a representative of a financial institution that offers retirement plans and choose the IRS model SEP, Form 5305-SEP, Simplified Employee Pension – Individual Retirement Accounts Contribution Agreement, or another plan document offered by the financial institution. Regardless of the SEP document you choose, when filled in, it will include the name of the employer, the requirements for employee participation, the signature of a responsible official, and a written allocation formula for the employer's contribution.
A SEP may be established as late as the due date (including extensions) of the company's income tax return for the year you want to establish the plan. For example, if your business's fiscal year (a corporate entity) ends on December 31 and you filed for the automatic 6-month extension, the company's tax return for the year ending December 31, 2013, would be due on September 15, 2014, allowing you to make the initial SEP contribution no later than September 15, 2014.
Choosing a financial institution to maintain your SEP is one of the most important decisions you will make, since that entity becomes a trustee to the plan. Trustees work with employers and agree to:
- Receive and invest contributions, and
- Provide each participant with a notice of employer contributions made each year and the value of his/her SEP-IRA at the end of the year.
Trustees of SEP-IRAs are generally banks, mutual funds, insurance companies that issue annuity contracts, and certain other financial institutions that have been approved by the IRS.
Step 2: Complete and sign Form 5305-SEP (or other plan document if not using the IRS model form). When it is completed and signed, this form becomes the plan's basic legal document, describing your employees' rights and benefits. Do not send it to the IRS; instead, use it as a reference since it sets out the plan terms (e.g., eligible employees, compensation, and employer contributions).
Step 3: Give your employees a copy of the Form 5305-SEP (or other plan document if not using the IRS model form) and its instructions, along with certain information about SEP-IRAs (described in Employee Communications below). The model SEP is not considered adopted until each employee is provided with a written statement explaining that:
- A SEP-IRA may provide different rates of return and contain different terms than other IRAs the employee may have;
- The administrator of the SEP will provide a copy of any amendment within 30 days of the effective date, along with a written explanation of its effects; and
- Participating employees will receive a written report of employer contributions made to SEP-IRAs by January 31 of the following year.
Operating the Plan
Once in place, a SEP is simple to operate. Your trustee will take care of depositing the contributions, investments, annual statements, and any required filings with the IRS. You will need to ensure that your plan is kept current with the law.
Contributions to SEP-IRAs
Your obligation is to forward contributions to your financial institution/trustee for those employees who participate as described in your plan document. You will want to keep your financial institution aware of any changes in the status of those employees in the plan. As you hire new employees, for instance, you will include them in the SEP if they satisfy the eligibility criteria described in the plan.
Your contributions to each employee's SEP-IRA for a year cannot exceed the lesser of 25 percent of the employee's compensation for the year or a dollar amount that is subject to cost-of-living adjustments. The dollar amount for 2013 is $51,000 and for 2014 is $52,000. These limits apply to your total contributions to this plan and any other defined contribution plans (other SEPs, 401(k), 403(b), profit sharing, or money purchase plan) you have.
You do not have to contribute every year. When you contribute, you must contribute to the SEP-IRAs of all participants who actually performed work for your business during the year for which the contributions are made, even employees who die or terminate employment before the contributions are made. Contributions for all participants generally must be uniform—for example, the same percentage of compensation. Employee salary reduction contributions cannot be made under a SEP.
There are special rules if you are a self-employed individual. For more information on the deduction limitations for self-employed individuals, see IRS Publication 560, Retirement Plans for Small Business (SEP, SIMPLE, and Qualified Plans).
How does a SEP work?
Quincy Chintz Company decides to establish a SEP for its employees. Quincy has chosen a SEP because the chintz industry is cyclical in nature, with good times and down times. In good years, Quincy can make larger contributions for its employees, and in down times it can reduce the amount. Quincy knows that under a SEP, the contribution rate (whether large or small) must be uniform for all employees. The financial institution that Quincy has selected to be the trustee for its SEP has several investment funds from which the Quincy employees can choose. Individual employees have the opportunity to divide their employer's contributions to their SEP-IRAs among the funds made available to Quincy's employees.
Employee Communications
When employees participate in a SEP, they must receive certain key disclosure documents from you and the financial institution:
- You must give employees a copy of IRS Form 5305-SEP and its instructions (or other document that was used to establish the plan). When new employees become eligible to participate in the plan, they also must receive a copy of the plan.
- You must also provide a written statement containing information about the terms of the SEP, how changes are made to the plan, and when employees are to receive information about contributions to their accounts. (See Step 3 above.)
- In addition to the information above, the financial institution provides an annual statement for each participant's SEP-IRA, reporting the fair market value of that account.
- The financial institution also gives participating employees a copy of the annual statement filed with the IRS containing contribution and fair market value information. (See Reporting to the Government below.)
- When an employee participating in the plan receives distributions from his/her account, the financial institution sends that employee a copy of the form that is filed with the IRS for the individual's distribution. (See Reporting to the Government below.)
- The financial institution will notify the participant by January 31 of each year when a minimum distribution is required.
Reporting to the Government
SEPs generally are not required to file annual financial reports with the Federal Government. SEP-IRA contributions are not included on the Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.
The financial institution/trustee handling employees' SEP-IRAs provides the IRS and participating employees with an annual statement containing contribution and fair market value information on Form 5498, IRA Contribution Information.
Your financial institution also will report on Form 1099-R, Distributions From Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc., any distributions it makes from participating employees' accounts. The Form 1099-R is sent to those receiving distributions and to the IRS.
Participants cannot take loans from their SEP-IRAs.
However, participants can make withdrawals at any time. These monies can be rolled over tax-free to another SEP-IRA, to another traditional IRA, or to another employer's qualified retirement plan (provided the other plan allows rollovers).
Money withdrawn from a SEP-IRA (and not rolled over to another plan) is subject to income tax for the year in which an employee receives a distribution. If an employee withdraws money from a SEP-IRA before age 59½, a 10 percent additional tax generally applies.
As with other traditional IRAs, participants in a SEP-IRA must begin withdrawing a specific minimum amount from their accounts by April 1 of the year following the year the participant reaches age 70½. For the year following the year in which a participant reaches age 70½, he/she must withdraw an additional required minimum distribution amount by December 31 of that year and annually thereafter. The financial institution/trustee will notify the participant by January 31 of each year when a minimum distribution is required. (For further details regarding the required minimum distribution amount, see IRS Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs).)
Monitoring the Trustee
As the plan sponsor, you should monitor the financial institution/trustee to assure that it is doing everything it is required to do. You should also ensure that the trustee's fees are reasonable for the services it is providing. If the trustee is not doing its job properly, or if its fees are not reasonable, you should consider replacing the trustee.
Terminating the Plan
Although SEPs are established with the intention of continuing indefinitely, the time may come when a SEP no longer suits the purposes of your business. When that happens, consult with your financial institution to determine if another type of retirement plan might be a better alternative.
To terminate a SEP, notify the financial institution that you will not make a contribution for the next year and that you want to terminate the contract or agreement. Although not mandatory, it is a good idea to notify your employees that the plan will be discontinued. You do not need to give any notice to the IRS that the SEP has been terminated.
Mistakes … and how to correct them
Even with the best of intentions, mistakes in plan operation can happen. The U.S. Department of Labor and the IRS have correction programs to help employers with SEPs correct plan errors, protect participants' interests, and keep the plan's tax benefits. These programs are structured to encourage early error correction.
Ongoing review makes it easier to spot and correct mistakes in the plan's operations. See the Resources section below for further information.
Your SEP – a quick review
- Choose a financial institution to set up your SEP.
- Sign the agreement; set up the SEP-IRAs.
- Inform your employees about the plan.
- Deposit contributions by the due date of your tax return.
- Monitor your financial institution/trustee.


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New York, New York: Rangers snap slump, Isles win second straight
It was a good night in NYC.
In Manhattan, the Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over the 'Canes at MSG and, while that was going on, the Isles won their second straight with a victory over the Avs in Brooklyn.
Nice little Monday, that.
Let's begin with the Rangers.
Heading into tonight's action in arguably their worst slump of the season, the Blueshirts got goals from Mats Zuccarello, Oscar Lindberg, Chris Kreider and Derick Brassard to edge the 'Canes. While it was hardly an oil painting -- New York was out-shot 36-22 -- the club will gladly take the win, and the positives that came with it.
Like the power play, that went 2-for-4 on the night with Zuccarello's and Lindberg's tallies. And the fact the club was able to withstand the loss of d-man Kevin Klein, who exited early in the first period -- despite missing a steadying presence that plays over 21 minutes per night, the Rangers' remaining five d-men (Ryan McDonagh, Keith Yandle, Dan Girardi, Dan Boyle and Marc Staal) all played at least 20 minutes save Yandle, who clocked in at 19:43.
The Rangers also got a solid outing from Henrik Lundqvist, who made 33 saves on 36 shots. Jordan Staal, Victor Rask and Chris Terry scored for Carolina.
Now, over to Barclays.
The Isles overcame Blake Comeau's game-opening tally in the first to win 5-3, thanks to a three-goal barrage in the final period.
Head coach Jack Capuano will no doubt be pleased with the balanced scoring across the board, as five different Isles found the back of the net: Cal Clutterbuck, Kyle Okposo, Ryan Strome, Casey Cizikas and Mikhail Grabovski, with Cizikas' goal proving to be the eventual game-winner.
The win was also sweet given it came with backup netminder Thomas Greiss in goal. The victory pushed him to an impressive 7-3-2 on the year, putting him in the conversation among the NHL's top second-string goalies.
For the Avs, tonight's loss will sting. It was another unremarkable outing from Semyon Varlamov (four goals on 27 shots, an .852 save percentage) and a forgettable night for three of Colorado's best players. Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Matt Duchene combined to go pointless on the night, with a minus-8 rating.
And yes, I just referenced plus-minus.
Update: As longtime and cherished PHT commenter bcislesman pointed out, I neglected to mention Wednesday's Rivalry Night game on NBCSN -- between the Rangers and Isles! Don't worry, we'll have plenty on it in the coming days. A reminder the game will be available on TV and via NBC Sports' Live Extra at 8 p.m. ET.

subset: commoncrawl


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Burger Bar Business for SALE
A burger bar with pre-Covid takings $12,000 per week and current takings $9,500-$10,500 per week in a prime retail location at Epping is for SALE. The growth corridor of the North and by far the best presented shop in the area.
- Excellent lease of 12 years
- Rental $950 pw plus outgoings
- Full commercial setup & equipment
- No expense spared, cannot be faulted
- Trades 5 nights 4.00-9.30 (27.5 hours per week)
- Operated by 4 casual staff, little owner involvement
- Opportunity to increase trading days & hours
- Simple menu with opportunity to introduce Kebabs
- No opposition in the area
- Opportunity for owner operator/ first business
- Lots of room for further improvement/growth
- High profit operation
Call Mino for further details at 0414 886 364 .
This business is exclusively listed with BPA Business Brokers .


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Gospel Diva, Esther Piesie has said, she will quit music if she's not awarded for her assiduous work towards the gospel music industry at the 2017 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, which is scheduled to take place at the International Conference Center on April 8, a close source has revealed to journalist, David Donkor.
The 'Apae Ama Me' hit maker, has recently been operating from one media house to the other, promoting her just launched 3rd album 'Agye Won Nsam' which has received 3 nominations ; Gospel Song of the Year, Gospel Artiste of the Year and Female Best Vocalist of the Year categories at the country's biggest music awards night.
According to the source, all efforts that need to be done for Piesie Esther to bag home her nominations at this year's VGMAs have been done and left for them as management is to wait patiently on the night, to go and grab the awards without any doubt.
The source also revealed that, Piesie Esther is optimistic she will win all nominations this year, explaining that, corrections have been done, much attention and promotion has also been given to her new album, as compared to her previous Me Nte Ase collection in 2008 which earned her nominations in the Gospel Artiste of the Year and Gospel Song of the Year categories at the 2009 Ghana Music Awards, but lost all.
In spite of this, the singer has said, if organizers of the VGMAs fail to award what is due her this year, she will quit her music career and will also look down on the credibility of the awards scheme.
According to David Donkor, who submitted the article, all efforts to reach Piesie Esther to clarify the news as of the time of publication prove futile.


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Item Description
Top quality Full-Vehicle Facial Tissue Carton Box Window Patching Device current box Window Patching Device
Solution Software
Window Patching Machine is extensively utilised in the window patching to the liquor box, reward box, tissue box, beauty box, toy box, and so on. It can be utilised for window movie reducing, creasing, gluing and patching of card.
1.The paper feeder parts is controlled by the servo motor, the paper pile make the intermittent movement in the method of the paper feeding, the belts work lengthy existence, method the paper merchandise to the conveying areas steady and orderly.
two.The paper conveying elements set up the four conveying chains with the 4 pushing blocks, it can be altered in accordance to the paper form.
3.The gluing areas adopt the adjustable elements gluing framework, it is convenient for adjustable in accordance to the paper necessity and the gluing place, save the gluing quantity, it is simple for pulling out the gluing parts, handy for washing. The gluing roller stopped the gluing when stopped the device.
4.The chopping elements includes two blades. The higher roller is the reducing movie roller with the two blade, finishing the cutting of the film.
5.All transmission rollers have been dynamic/static stability taken care of.
six.Geared up with crisis change.
seven.All the electrical appliances has been gained the CE certification.
The Principal CZPT Parameter:
|Cardboard weight
|Output for each hour
|Blank duration
|a hundred-650
|3.93-twenty five.59
|Blank width
|3.93-forty two.51
|Film size
|30-three hundred
|Film width
|Film thickness
|.05-.twenty five
|Connected load
Packaging & Shipping
Prime good quality Complete-Vehicle Facial Tissue Carton Box Window Patching Device current box Window Patching Machine is film wrapping and picket case.With this equipment,we will offer one particular year assure, total life specialized assist, a established of tools, a box of vulnerable elements, English Manu, Inverter Manu and CZPTal Schematic Diagram.
Our Companies
Q1:what is actually payment phrases ,trade conditions you settle for ?
Usually we enjoy T/T thirty% deposit , then 70% stability is paid before cargo , we usually provide fob HangCZPT price tag .but we also acknowledge other way like L/C , wetern union ,and do CFR&CIF and so forth.
Q2.Does it straightforward to run and what can i do if it doesn't operate?
Initial ,our machine is steady and effortless to work by one particular man ,what you do is just find out some basic point like loading the jumbo roll paper,begin the device and cutting the paper.And we will sent you guide and video clip ,we advise you to occur to pay a visit to our manufacturing unit to find out more point by your self , and if there is one thing goes improper , you can call us ,video-chat ,electronic mail us .And we will give options in 36 hrs .Our engineer also can be dispersed to abroad as you necessary.
Q3. If the machine's spare parts broken ,the place can i get ?
We will give you the spare areas which is vulnerable , and some critical components like equipment box , our good quality is very good ,in case it broken inside one year ,we will sent you for free of charge.
Firm Info
Our firm was discovered in 2005,which is specialized in packing machinery of paper and plastic.We have our personal manufacturing facility so that it is straightforward to satisfy our customers' wants.All of our goods passed the CE and SGS certification.
Manufacture and exporting all types of paper and plastic packing equipment,this sort of as slitting and rewinding machine,flexo printing equipment gravure printing machine,paper slicing equipment,A4 paper slicing equipment,rotary paper sheeting equipment,paper core making device,paper core chopping equipment,coating and laminating equipment and plastic bag generating machine.
We have a young,enthusiastic and outstanding group,which is led by packing
device authorities.Our philosophy is "Professional direct you to good results ".
1.Are you investing company or maker?
We are producer, and also supply the company resolution to all the friends.
two, Do you have high quality certification?
Indeed we have CE, SGS and so on.
three,What is actually the delivery time?
About twenty~30days, nonetheless, based on purchase.
four, Can you support us to buy other products?
Confident of that, it is our honor to operate for you, and management the merchandise quality.
Make contact with particular person
Speak to US


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Members First is always looking for ways to save time and make life more convenient for our members! Below you will find many helpful forms and applications for new products and services. Feel free to fill them out and send them in at your convenience. If you have questions about any of our forms or applications, please call a Financial Service Representative at 361-991-6178.
Account Applications
Open a Checking or Savings Account (Secure Form)
Account Management Forms
Authorization for Transfer (eDOCSignature)
Billing Rights for Credit Card Statement (PDF)
Billing Rights for Member Statement (PDF)
Change of Address (Online Banking)
Dormant Account Activation (Secure Form)
E-Statement Consent Form (eDOCSignature)
Payroll Deduction (eDOCSignature)
Debit and Credit Card Forms
Visa Debit Card Application (eDOCSignature)
Loan Forms
Skip A Payment (eDOCSignature)
Promotion Forms
$25 Refer a Friend Promo (PDF)


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How to make a devinely rich and dark chocolate cake. This cake is child's play to make:)
3 cups of flour
2 cups of sugar
1 cup of cocoa
2 teaspoon of baking powder
2 teaspoons of baking soda
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
1 cup of milk
1 cup of vegetable oil
3 eggs
1/4 pound of soft butter
5 cups of confectionery sugar
1 cup of cocoa
Milk to mix frosting to soft consistency
Sift all the dry ingredients for the cake into a large bowl.
Add all the wet ingredients including the eggs into the dry mix.
Using a whisk mix all together until smooth (kids just love doing this).
Put in a well-greased 9-inch spring form cake tin and bake at 375°F for 40 minutes.
Sift the confectionery sugar into a bowl.
Sift in the cocoa.
Add the soft butter and using a wooden spoon mix together.
Add milk as required until you have a nice soft consistency.
A quick and effective way to frost your cake once it has cooled is to cover it completely with frosting and then using the flat side of your knife drag it up the sides so the frosting forms a peak in the middle. (Refer to photo)


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Award winning interior designers Casa Bothelho, decided to use our Reclamation London Yellow brick slips. For this stunning project in Kensington, London.
Chosen for their match to the bricks used in the local area, our Reclamation London Yellow brick slips work perfectly in this project, offering something that stands out without being too overbearing.
This unique project made use of the London Yellow brick slips for both internal work where a feature wall was created in the dining area and externally where the brick tiles were used in a roof top garden overlooking the city of London.


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This foaming cleansing gel effectively eliminates impurities and excess sebum that cause blemishes. It has an icy blue texture that suits even the most sensitive skin and reduces the drying effect of hard water. Your skin is clean, purified and balanced.
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The "Sactown" Kings to debut new hometown court tonight
The Sacramento Kings will display their Sactown pride tonight with the debut of their new City Edition court design.
When the Kings take on the Chicago Bulls at 7 p.m. at Golden 1 Center, the court will be emblazoned with a slate gray lion in the center, baby blue lanes (hearkening back to the predominant team color in Kansas City and the first few seasons in Sacramento), and red sidelines, which point to the accent color on the Kings' uniforms going as far back as when they were the Rochester Royals from 1945 to 1957. The third court design to be used this season (in addition to the original purple hardwood and the international black court), the floor of Golden 1 will also feature "SACTOWN" stamped in white on each baseline, and "Sacramento Proud" displayed on the sideline across from the scorers' table.
"The [Sactown] nickname graces our court for the first time in franchise history — but has been used belovedly by neighbors, friends and guests who have fallen in love with our great city," says John Rinehart, the team's president of business operations.
Created to match the team's Nike City Edition uniforms, which also bear the lion logo and the red, white and powder blue color scheme, the Kings announced the design of the court in December. The team will wear the uniforms, which also feature the words "Sacramento Proud," and play on the Sactown court for eight home games in February and March this season. Fans can also get in on the retro-cool action with special edition hoodies, jerseys and tees (as well as caps and socks).
For a full list of City Edition game dates (the next ones will be Feb. 9, Feb. 26, and March 3 and 4) and to check out its gear, visit nba.com/kings/city.
You Might Also Like
The Game Changer: how Vivek Ranadive became a king of Kings
Punch Bowl Social and other Downtown Commons eateries open their doors
Crowning Glory: a flashback to Sacramento's rally to save the Kings


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The Lunula Laser® by Erchonia is an FDA-approved method for addressing problems of fungal nail infections. The laser is the culmination of more than 10 years of research. The Lunula Laser® is unique in that it is the only true, dual diode, Class 2 laser that offers multiple benefits. The Lunula combines the anti-fungal effects of the 405 nm wavelength with the regenerative outcomes of a 635 nm wavelength, and it is safe and painless, offering greater effectiveness without the unpleasant heat generated by other lasers. This laser is so effective because it passes through the nail, eliminating the fungal infection through photo-inactivation of the fungal cells and preventing the cells from replicating in the nail. It does all this without any side effects.
A fungal infection can cause damage to your toenails, and likewise, damaged toenails can lead to fungal infection. This condition can be caused by poorly fitting footwear and certain medical conditions, so this type of infection is a leading cause of podiatrist visits. Fungal infections of the nails result in flaking, peeling, and continuous discomfort. Fortunately, our Medical Director at The Active Foot Spa, located in our store, uses the most advanced laser for addressing nail fungus infections. The laser is highly effective at eliminating toenail fungus infections without pain or side effects. Although it may not be visible to the naked eye, a fungal infection of one toenail can spread easily to the other toenails. For this reason, we recommend that both feet always get treated, which results in a much higher success rate of this difficult problem. The procedure only requires four 24-minute treatments, and the results are clearly visible in a short period of time, once new growth of the nail takes place.
The medical term for nail fungus is onychomycosis, and it accounts for more than 50 percent of nail abnormalities. Fungal nail infections are most common in toenails. Symptoms, like discoloration and crumbling of the nail, are caused by the thickness and abnormal shape that result from the fungus being present, and these types of infections are difficult to treat because the fungus exists on the nail, beneath the nail, and inside the nail. Though estimates vary, about 10 percent of Americans have an active onychomycosis infection, and this increases to about 20 percent in people over 60 and up to 50 percent of those over 70. People with diabetes, weakened immune systems, and circulatory disorders have a higher risk of fungal nail infections, and men are more susceptible than women.
If left unaddressed, the nail fungus can spread to other nails and even the skin, resulting in increased nail thickness, abnormalities, and even the loss of nails. It can also lead to cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection. The longer you ignore onychomycosis, the harder it is to get rid of.
Fill out the form to the right, let us know your questions. You can even request an appointment for a expert shoe fitting with one of our staff.
Complete our contact form with a detailed message of any questions or concerns that you might have for us. Our staff will be happy to assist you.


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Rutgers Connect (Microsoft Office 365)
The faculty, staff, guests, and student workers of the Bloustein School moved to Office 365 in the fall of 2016.
Login information
Go to http://connect.rutgers.edu
Username firstname.lastname@example.com
Password: your NetId password
Training Materials
ScarletMail is the primary email system for students. It is a Google Apps for Education instance. Faculty and Staff can use this system for the specific purpose of collaborating with students by enabling it at http://scarletmail.rutgers.edu/index.php
Email Address Alias (email@example.com) Changes
Rutgers university encourages you to register firstname.lastname@example.com. You can set this up and choose where it goes at https://netid.rutgers.edu/index.htm Choose Manage Email Addresses in the menu. If you need to change your email (NetID) password, you can do this here as well.


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Service Highlight-Postpartum Sealing Ceremony
What the heck is a postpartum sealing ceremony? This is an ancient Malaysian ceremony, also known as The Closing of the Bones. The premise is that when a person is having a baby, their body has to be so open in order to bring the baby out into the world, and then when the birth is over and you are in the postpartum period, your bones needs to be closed up again, or brought back together, or sealed.
I absolutely love being able to offer this service to my clients. The ceremony includes the following, and in this order:
Ceremonial bath, with all of the healing herbs and essential oils to help heal your perineum and to help you relax.
Moxibustion, or Chinese mugwort, comes in a stick form and we light the end of it and warm up your abdomen since there is a cold energy left in there after baby has left.
Massage: I bring in a licensed massage therapist for this piece since I am not a massage therapist. This will be a one hour postpartum massage.
Tucking in and blessings: I use rebozos (the scarf like object that the traditional Mexican midwives use for childbirth) along your whole body to tuck you in or close your bones. If you are a religious person, we can come up with an appropriate blessing for you for this part.
Belly binding: This is the final stage of the ceremony. This will be the traditional Malaysian belly binding that I will do for you. This is great for helping your organs back into place after the baby is out. It is also great for you posture as it keeps your back straight and can be very helpful with breastfeeding, since most of us tend to hunch over our babies when breastfeeding.
This is a real treat for new parents. All of my clients who have hired me for this service have been very pleased!
That's the postpartum sealing ceremony in a nutshell! Please feel to reach out with any questions, or if you need further information. This service can be scheduled right on my website.
A happy and healthy postpartum period to you all!


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Project Facts
Ethiopia, Kenya
Addis Ababa, Kisumu
Applied Financing Solutions
Private Equity
Project Dates
Start: 2016
The Story
To tackle the climate crisis, there is an urgent need for an alternative to fossil fuels that is clean, cheap, quickly scalable and infinite. NextFuel has developed a technology that can play a key role in the energy transition by converting large quantities of abundant biomass, such as straw, or agro-industrial residues, such as bagasse, into sustainable coal briquettes. Following numerous tests at its industrial-size pilot plant in Frohnleiten, Austria, the company now aims to replicate and scale-up its patented solution mainly in Africa and South America, where the fuel can be produced at low cost and in high volumes by using carbon-rich plants such as elephant grass.
Together with local partners, the start-up is currently implementing the first phase of several commercial projects for companies within the utility-, steel- and cement industry. In its first East-African project, for example, the target is to replace 250,000 tonnes of coal with the CO2-negative NextFuel briquette, thereby cutting the client's energy cost in half in one of their cement factories.
Apart from replacing fossil fuels, pollution reduction is another advantage of this innovative technology, because NextFuel burns nearly smokeless and can therefore reduce smog problems in cities with air pollution. It is also suited to replace traditional cooking fuels in developing countries thereby saving both forests and lives.
Success Factor | Hero Moment
A real Hero Moment for the advance of the project was its participation in the 2018 AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT in Vienna. The presentation of NextFuel as a best practice solution at this event was the final step in convincing Swedish investors to take a stake in the company and provide substantial support for its further development work.
NextFuel AB, Sweden
Contact Mail


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Could every school be this enchanting (and sustainable)?Thursday, January 27th, 2011
Is it a spaceship made out of bamboo and grass? Flood-proof housing in the shape of a cupcake? A love song to the double helix?
It's a school! I am enchanted by this gorgeous wonderland of bamboo, gardens, and goats. It truly looks like nothing I have ever seen before. If I went to school here, would I ever want to go home?
The Green School is the brainchild of John Hardy, an undiagnosed dyslexic who, growing up, struggled academically and frequently cried all the way to school as a child. After creating an internationally recognized jewelry business and expecting to quietly retire, he saw the Al Gore documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, and decided with his wife, Cynthia Hardy, to do something to leave a better world for his children and future generations.
They created the incredible bamboo Green School in Bali, Indonesia.
The classrooms have no walls. The desks are not square. In addition to normal international school subjects, everyone also gets to plant, harvest, and cook organic rice. All students plant bamboo and have the opportunity to harvest it and build with it. There's no concrete. The toilets are composting (and surprisingly cute). These kids are leaving and breathing sustainability.
There's a buffalo, pigs, a school cow, and 20 acres of gardens that feed 400 people lunch every day (cooked with reclaimed bamboo sawdust, no less)! A unique water vortex generates hydropower. And even the blackboards are made out of bamboo. It's all a way to communicate the idea, as Hardy puts it, that the world is not indestructible.
Hardy talks about how he went to a school that was built by the same people and with the same materials as the local jail and insane asylum. He points out that students spend 181 days each year inside of a box. Hardy decided to create a school that is NOT a box, that bears no resemblance whatsoever to a jail or an insane asylum. A school where kids do not have to be inside a box literally or metaphorically.
I have never seen a school design demonstrate this philosophy so dramatically and so beautifully. In my own work with students, my goal is always to mentor them as a whole person and help them learn in whatever way works best for them. When I look at photos of this school, I'm overcome by a feeling of openness. I'm uplifted and inspired by this school's vision.
When sustainable living is approached as a pain in the butt or a deprivation, it will never be embraced on the scale it needs to be. But when it's approached so imaginatively, who can fail to be intrigued? Who would choose to go to school in an air-conditioned box when they could be learning in this gorgeous, light-filled space?
I'm also totally thrilled for my friend Elora Hardy, director of Ibuku, the company that designs the gorgeous bamboo furniture used throughout the school. I love these designs! Way to go, Elora, creating all this gorgeousness!!
Related Posts:
Is multi-sensory learning hardwired into our humanity?
Self-taught heroes: William Kamkwamba, the boy who harnessed the wind
Encouraging independent problem solving (subliminally?)
Self-taught heroes: Pearl Fryar


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Frog Distribution in a Changing LandscapeFeb. 20th 2017
"Who will walk between me and the crying of the frogs?" – Edna St. Vincent Millay
The cacophony of a spring night in the northeastern woods can be overpowering. Breeding season for anurans (frogs and toads) is beginning, and males are making themselves heard just like birds singing or bull elk bugling. Gray tree frogs trill and green frogs make a twangy call that has earned them the nickname "banjo frogs." Wood frogs chuckle like feeding ducks, and above it all trembles the reedy hum of the spring peeper. Step outside your door on a warm April evening in Vermont – especially if you live near water – and this chaos of sound will leave you stunned.
Aside from their biologic function, frog calls offer a powerful source of information for researchers wishing to understand the distribution of anuran species. From 1997 through 2015, the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP) harnessed citizen scientists to survey frogs by listening for their calls along roads during breeding season. These surveys generated distribution maps for 31 frog species across 26 states.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists 30% of the world's amphibian species as threatened, and researchers suspect that land use change – especially increasing urbanization – may be implicated. Seeking to understand what drives spatial patterns of distribution and decline, Marsh et al. used the NAAMP survey data to examine how the effects of road density and land use on anuran species richness vary across regions and at different scales.
Species richness means the number of distinct species in a community or region. While this metric offers only a limited window into the ecological functioning of an area, it is often used as a proxy for biodiversity or habitat suitability. Unsurprisingly, amphibian species richness varies across regions in the United States, since more productive areas – such as temperate wetlands – provide habitats amenable to more amphibian species, with more food, more precipitation, and warmer temperatures. The study corrected for this natural variation in species richness across regions by including local net primary productivity as a covariate.
Some types of land use affect frog species differently across regions. In the Midwest, agriculture was associated with lower species richness, while in the Northeast and Southeast, species richness increased slightly or remained stable in the presence of agriculture. This difference may stem from the different forms agriculture takes in these regions: in the Midwest, massive industrial farms homogenize hundreds of acres, while farms in the Northeast and Southeast tend to be smaller and contain more diverse habitat types. Other land uses had consistent effects across regions: development and impervious surfaces were correlated with low frog species richness, and wetlands meant more frog species.
While rural roads did not affect species richness at the smallest scales (within 300m of survey sites), species richness at larger scales (within 10km from survey sites) declined as the density of rural roads increased. In other words, even if rural roads do not directly kill many frogs, a dense network of small roads can disrupt connectivity or fragment habitat enough to reduce the number of frog species present within a region. Meanwhile, the density of large primary and secondary highways was associated with lower frog species richness at all scales.
Here in Vermont, recent work has focused on mitigating the latter problem. On "Big Nights," the first warm, rainy nights of spring, thousands of frogs and other amphibians migrate from forests to wetlands to breed, crossing roads – at their peril – in the process. Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center and North Branch Nature Center, as well as many smaller local groups, organize volunteers to carry amphibians to safety on Big Nights, but more permanent measures are needed to protect the animals from death by car. Two underpasses were recently built on the Monkton-Vergennes Road, and wildlife cameras reveal that hundreds of amphibians are making use of these safe crossings. Structures designed for the passage of fish or other wildlife serve the same function for amphibians elsewhere in the state. Citizens can help by reporting sites where amphibians cross roads en masse to the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas so that managers can identify hot spots where wildlife culverts should be prioritized. With collaboration between Vermont Fish and Wildlife, VTrans, and town planning departments, wildlife underpasses may soon become more widespread. The wild clamor of spring nights in Vermont may depend on it.


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Tamar.ANSITerm v0.1.4 Release NotesRelease Date: 2019-06-07 // over 4 years ago
⚡ This update introduces a new configuration class that allows you to ignore support from the current terminal and print escape codes anyway.
👍 The old
BackColorwere now renamed to
BackgroundColorrespectively to better conform .NET's API.
The source code structure was overhauled and some portions of it were completely re-written so it's much more modular, readable and maintainable.
🛠 Fixed a bug with
ResetColorwhen used after turning escape code support off, changing colors and then turning it on back.
⚡ This update is fully backwards-compatible. The obsolete API is still available and re-routes everything to the new API.


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Let's call it morbid curiosity that led us to re-read Lisa Donovan's foray into the world of Extremely Intense Bacon for the Sun-Times from last week. Somehow in our recap, we entirely overlooked the supremely awesome t-shirt being worn by whoever is pictured showing the country-fried bacon from Risque Cafe — it's the "Bacon is a Vegetable" shirt from webcomic Diesel Sweeties, and — no joke — we have had its corresponding bumper sticker pasted to our bedroom door for the last couple of years. Shout out!
Does bacon get any better than this? [S-T]
Bacon is a Vegetable shirt [Diesel Sweeties]
Risque Cafe [MenuPages]
Risque Cafe [Official Site]
[Photo: Tom Cruze for the S-T]
Sun-Times Food, Digested: Best. Issue. Ever.


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After we posted Ronya's incredibly hot video for her single "The Flame" we were instantly flooded with requests for more about this artist so we asked for an interview and here's what we got!
1. How did you get your start in the music business?
RONYA: I knew what I wanted to do from a young age and tried to persuade my parents to let me dive in to the music industry at 14,15,16 but they refused to let me become a child star, (thank god). I got my real start in the music business when I recorded a demo with my godfather that ended up in the hands of a couple of labels. After begging my parents they finally let me sign at 17.
2. Who influenced you to become a musician and create the music you're making?
RONYA: I come from a family with a lot of musicians and artists, so music and art has always been a big part of my life. My father produced one of the first and most legendary rock bands in Finland, Hurriganes, and my mother always wrote songs for every occasion that we would perform together. They both influenced me to make music myself and not let anyone else decide where I stand as a musician. Back then I was also very much influenced by the great divas, the big voices, and I would practice imitating their sound and range every single day for several hours.
The music I'm making now is of course influenced by the music I listen to, but it's also very much influenced by the people I work with, building on their own unique sound.
3. There are many similarities drawn between you and Robyn. Is she someone you have modeled yourself after? What other female artists do you take after?
RONYA: Personally Robyn has always been someone I admire, but not one I particularly model myself after. I've always been influenced by Beyonce and Björk. Kate Bush is also someone I've always loved.
4. Where do you see the future of music heading?
RONYA: Subcultures will always lead the way, and the mainstream will always exploit certain elements to the masses, but there will always be new music. Record companies won't be needed anymore and the power will be in the artists. Upcoming young musicians also need to work harder to be musicians and artists – not singers or products of various singing competitions that promise fame and success. That success isn't sustainable if you don't understand what it is to be a musician and to start from the bottom and build your way up towards a lasting career. We need to get back to making music for music, not for money. Success isn't a bad thing, but it has to be earned.
5. Do you think it's important to appeal to the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender) community? Many artists are diligently working to appeal to this community.
RONYA: As an artist and on a personal level it's something that is close to my heart and something I take very seriously. I have young fans at a tender age that need to know that it's ok to be you, whoever you are. There is constantly something going on in the world reminding us that the war isn't over and it's important that we show our support to those who need it the most.
Check out "The Flame"


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Two months ago, Yang Tao was working as a sushi chef at a Japanese restaurant in Beijing. But when the restaurant ran into difficulties due to the coronavirus outbreak, like many other businesses in China, Yang's employer found him a new temporary gig: Working as a grocery sorter at supermarket chain 7Fresh.
"It was very easy to pick up the work. The training only took one day. My main job was to find the items which customers had ordered online, and put them in a bag on a conveyor belt so they could be collected by delivery guys," Yang told Quartz. He racked up as many as 50,000 steps some days, he said, because work was so busy. Yang has now returned to the restaurant, as life gradually returns to normal in China.
Yang is among thousands of workers who were loaned by their employers to other companies, such as 7Fresh's owner, the e-commerce giant JD.com, which saw demand surge during the pandemic. Chinese workers, most of them employed by hard-hit businesses such as restaurants, karaoke bars, and cinemas, were sent to supermarkets, retail shops, or even bicycle-sharing startups (link in Chinese).
The workers' original companies continued to pay for their insurance and other benefits, while the new, temporary employers paid their wages, usually on an hourly basis. When things picked up at the original companies again, they returned to their old jobs.
The worker-sharing scheme has thrown a lifeline to China's smaller companies, especially restaurants. Revenues in the restaurant sector dropped 46.8% (link in Chinese) in March compared to a year ago, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics. With staff costs a major burden for restaurants trying to stay afloat when few are going out to eat at the same rate as before the pandemic, employee-sharing allows them to shed some of those costs while continuing to keep their employees on the books, so they're ready to hire workers back properly again when things pick up.
"The benefit of paying by the hour is that it gives workers the freedom to choose how many hours they want to work per day. If they want to earn the same amount or more than the salary of full-time employees, they just need to work longer," Cao Chunhua, the head of human resources at 7Fresh, told Quartz. Cao added that the chain also requires the third-party human resources agencies that coordinate work-sharing arrangements to purchase coronavirus-related insurance for the workers, while the chain itself provides work meals and other protections in the same way it does for full-time employees.
JD's rival Alibaba, which owns the supermarket chain Freshippo, also launched its own employee sharing scheme in early February in order to help workers and companies affected by the virus "maintain a level of stability during a challenging time," according to an Alibaba spokesperson. Freshippo has hired more than 5,000 temporary workers from more than 40 companies so far. Even Walmart jumped into the fray (link in Chinese), and brought on more than 3,000 temporary workers in February for its over 400 supermarkets in China.
Most of the temporary workers at 7Fresh and Freshippo have now returned to their previous workplaces, according to the two companies. But both said they would continue using the employee-sharing scheme in the long run, with Alibaba planning to roll out a digital platform (link in Chinese) to formalize the practice.
"This [initiative] is an exciting example of the creative solutions we're seeing emerge in response to the massive labor market disruption caused by Covid-19," said Julia Pollak, a labor economist with ZipRecuriter, a California-based startup that matches potential employees with employers.
In China, the unemployment rate reached 6.2% for the January-February period, and inched down to 5.9% last month, though the figure doesn't include the almost 300 million migrant workers. In the US, unemployment rate is predicted by economists to reach as much as 20%.
Such schemes are also being adapted on a much smaller scale in the US, where more than 90% (paywall) of the country's 125,0000 restaurant workers were idle by late March, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing labor union UNITE HERE. Food-delivery startup DoorDash, for example, rolled out in March a "priority access program" to allow workers at their restaurant partners to sign up as delivery workers "until their jobs return to normal."
Pollak, the economist, questioned how widespread worker-sharing in American firms could become given the high costs. Employer-provided health insurance, she said, often costs $8,000 per year for individual coverage and $20,000 per year for family coverage.


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NYIT Gets Out the Vote
September 24, 2018
According to a study by Tufts University, voter turnout among college students increased by more than three percent in 2016 from 45.1 percent in 2012 to 48.3 percent. Among those who were registered to vote, 68.5 percent voted in 2016, compared to 65.3 percent in 2012.
NYIT is committed to doing its part to continue to engage students. In the run-up to the midterm elections November 6, the university is hosting a series of events to increase awareness and encourage students to register to vote and engage in civil discourse.
Events On and Around Campus:
National Voter Registration Day National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) is a national holiday celebrating our democracy. Every year millions of Americans find themselves unable to vote because they miss a registration deadline, don't update their registration, or aren't sure how to register. The goal of NVRD is to make sure everyone has the opportunity to vote. Volunteers from the New York City (Manhattan) and Long Island (Old Westbury, N.Y.) campuses will help you register and provide information on political institutions, organizations, and activities.
Tuesday, September 25, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., New York City and Long Island campuses. See event calendar for locations. Email Luzia Ogureck to volunteer.
Harlem Voter Registration Drive As part of NYIT's Building Resilient Communities initiative, an NYIT student team will partner with The Pillars and area teens to distribute voter registration forms at St. Nicholas Avenue and 125th Street in Harlem.
Tuesday, September 25, 1 – 4 p.m., Email Luzia Ogureck to volunteer.
New Immigrant and Refugee Visions Attend the screening of two immigrant-produced films, An American Child and Campaign for a New American. Immigrants, refugees, and immigration policy are critical issues for many American communities this election year. CSFilm's New Immigrant and Refugee Visions (NIRV) project is a collection of documentary films produced by new immigrants that provide a unique insider perspective on the integration challenges faced by immigrants and the contributions they make to our culture, economy, and social fabric.
Thursday, September 27, 12:30 – 2 p.m., 16 W. 61st St., 11th floor auditorium.
Civic Thursdays: Voter Registration/Education Learn about the importance of national and local elections and register to vote.
Thursday, September 27, 12:45 – 2 p.m., Anna Rubin Hall, room 305, Long Island campus.
Civic Thursdays: Bring it to the Table Screening Examine your own assumptions and engage in civil discourse to help move our democracy forward. The event is organized by filmmaker and political activist Julie Winokur who will screen segments of her documentary, Bring it to the Table. Members of the NYIT community are invited to discuss their political views and help others understand where they are coming from.
Thursday, October 11, Free Hour, NYIT Auditorium on Broadway, Manhattan campus.
Civic Thursday Participate in an open discussion about the midterm elections.
Thursday, October 25, 12:30 – 2 p.m., NYIT-New York City: Library; NYIT-Long Island: Anna Rubin Hall, Room 305.
Life Hack Series: Vote Join International and Experiential Education in a conversation about the midterm elections.
Tuesday, November 6, 12:30 – 2 p.m., Edward Guiliano Global Center, Manhattan campus.
Visit the NYIT events calendar to find more discussions and gatherings (events will be updated throughout the month).


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PITTSBURGH - The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and the ACLU of Pennsylvania sent a letter to the Brownsville Area School District (Fayette County) today asking that administrators revoke and expunge the suspensions levied on students for filming or participating in the popular "Harlem Shake" video meme, which involves recording a group of individuals doing a particular dance and posting it online.
A copy of NCAC's statement condemning the suspensions nationwide and defending students' rights to free expression was also included with the letter.
"By policing online student speech and levying punishments for participation in a harmless Internet fad, school officials are being far more 'disruptive' to the learning environment than these videos could ever be" said Joan Bertin, executive director of NCAC.
"This is certainly not the first time dance and, in particular, one popular with young people, has been a cause of social anxiety and repression. Whatever you think about the 'Harlem Shake,' these videos are a form of protected speech where neither the school nor other students were harmed," said Vic Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania.
A complete list of student suspensions for involvement in the making of a video in this most recent and pervasive Internet trend can be found at NCAC.org. The Harlem Shake controversy is simply the latest in a growing trend of administrative censorship and punishment in response to online student speech.
In their letter to BASD, the NCAC and the ACLU note that the school district has a history of failing to recognize fundamental constitutional rights. In the past few years, a teacher was suspended after a third party posted a video of a bachelorette party in her home; a student was harassed and disciplined for declining to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance; and the districted resisted students' efforts to form a Gay-Straight Alliance.
NCAC's Youth Free Expression Project counters the growing hysteria around young people's access to culture. With the message that excessive attempts to control and restrict what kids read, create, watch and play are counterproductive, NCAC supports policies that emphasize educating young people on how to be literate participants in contemporary culture.


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- CEO Vlad Tenev made the announcement in a blog post on Tuesday afternoon.
- The move will affect about 9% of full-time employees.
- Robinhood reported 3,800 full-time employees as of Dec. 31.
Retail brokerage firm Robinhood is cutting back staffing levels, citing "duplicate roles and job functions" after rapid expansion last year.
CEO Vlad Tenev made the announcement in a blog post on Tuesday afternoon. Shares fell more than 5% in extended trading.
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The move will affect about 9% of full-time employees. Robinhood reported 3,800 full-time employees as of Dec. 31. The company declined to give more detail on the exact number of employees being let go.
"We determined that making these reductions to Robinhood's staff is the right decision to improve efficiency, increase our velocity, and ensure that we are responsive to the changing needs of our customers," Tenev wrote.
"While the decision to undertake this action wasn't easy, it is a deliberate step to ensure we are able to continue delivering on our strategic goals and furthering our mission to democratize finance," he added.
Robinhood is scheduled to release its first-quarter results after the bell on Thursday. The blog post didn't mention those financial results other than saying that the company has more than $6 billion in cash on its balance sheet.
Money Report
The company previously reported having $6.25 billion in cash and cash equivalents on its balance sheet at the end of December.
Going forward, the company will review employee growth plans and "continue to prioritize internal opportunities for automation and operational efficiency," Tenev wrote.
Robinhood rose to prominence in early 2021 as a key player in the GameStop saga, where retail investors bid up so-called meme stocks.
The brokerage saw a surge of new customers and cash, and entered the public markets through an IPO in July. However, the stock gained little traction and has traded below its IPO price of $38 per share for much of its existence. Shares closed at $10 on Tuesday.
The company shed monthly active users during the fourth quarter, and its first-quarter results will face tough comparisons to the GameStop mania of the first quarter of 2021.


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Meklee Interiors offers a large selection of custom Hunter Douglas window treatments, including sheers and shadings, honeycomb shades, shutters, horizontal blinds, vertical blinds, Roman shades, roller shades, and woven wood shades. We also offer custom draperies and bedding options.We serve the entire Fox Valley area including Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Elburn, Sugar Grove, Aurora, Wheaton, Napeville, Elgin and surrounding areas. Please contact us
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Wilson RawlsYearling / 1996 / Trade PaperbackOur Price$6.994.5 out of 5 stars for Where the Red Fern Grows. View reviews of this product. 11 Reviews
Retail Price$8.99Save 22% ($2.00)Availability: In StockStock No: WW412671
of customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Page 1 of 3
Catherine Strickler5 Stars Out Of 5August 3, 2009Catherine StricklerIt arrived on time and in great shape. I would highly recommend cbd to other families.
Shaina4 Stars Out Of 5April 2, 2008ShainaThis is a very good book to read to all students. My favorite part of the book was when Billy won the hunting contest. This is a very good book to read to students. Also, I think you should rate this the book of the year.
Jacque5 Stars Out Of 5April 2, 2008JacqueThis book has a lot of foreshadowing in it, that is what can make a book very interesting. I would also suggest that you have plenty of tissues in hand as you read towards the end of the book. It is a heartwarming story that tells about a boy named Billy, who who has an affectionate side to him about dogs. Billy doesn't like just any kind of dog, he wanted two bloodhounds, because he could use the bloodhounds for hunting. He named his bloodhounds Old Dan and Little Ann, the bloodhounds were a perfect match for each other, because they were like buddies and would always stick by Billy's side. Billy was practically a father to the skilled dogs, because Billy had an unending love for his dogs that they were inseparable to him, just like God has an unending love to whoever follows him. I highly recommend this book, because it is an inspiration to everyone that loves dogs and wants them to be like a sibling to them.
Sarah5 Stars Out Of 5April 2, 2008SarahAre you looking for a great book that will keep your interest? "Where the Red Fern Grows" is perfect. A cute story about two little hounds who work together to sniff out coon hounds. Little Ann and Old Dan would do anything for each other even if it's a life or death situation. I HIGHLY recommend this book. But beware crying will be included!
Megan5 Stars Out Of 5April 2, 2008MeganThis book is wonderful heartwarming adventure book. When and if you read this book you will feel like you are part of the story. This story will take through the ups and downs. The book will touch your heart if your a girl or a sensitive boy. You will find yourselves at the end of the book realizing that the author kind of made a bond between tou Billy and the dogs. The sadness will hit your heart like a ton of bricks if you catch the bond between you and the characters. I will recomend this book to anyone. It is way better than the movie in my opinion! Check out this book it will capture your heart most definetly! Buy it you will thank yourself for it!!!
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The First 100 Days after GNU
By Eddie Cross (MP)
It is now just over 100 days since the elections on the 31st of July. Having secured their objective of total control of both Houses of Parliament, Zanu PF has made a slow start to getting their act together and perhaps it is time to review the situation in the country.
It took them a long time to form the Cabinet and when they did the most astonishing thing was that it was made up of all the old veterans who had held positions in previous administrations. If the newly elected Members of Parliament made any entry to Cabinet it was as a member of the second row of Deputies and many of these are useful technical types.
The much vaunted "Zim Asset" document, touted as the blueprint for the next five years and supposed to set out the agenda of the new government was a long time emerging and even now has not been formally launched. However it was made clear that this new document was being used in their efforts to get the process of government under way.
The draft of Zim Asset that I have seen is disappointing in that it does not give a clear road map of the intentions of Zanu PF. One senior Civil Servant told me that "at least it does no damage" and therefore must be welcomed.
Given the dramatic and damaging switches in policy that we have seen so often in the past this at least is a welcome development. However it was to other sources that we had to turn to get an indication of just what they were up to.
In particular the new Minister of Finance was the first in the front line. The budget process was already three months behind schedule and within days of his appointment he left for two weeks of intense discussions and meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC.
The list of things demanding his attention was long and all of it urgent. Revenues flowing into the Consolidated Revenue Fund had slipped to well below forecast and he was faced within days of the problem of how to pay salaries.
In the previous four years when Tendai Biti had been Minister, Biti had exhibited his considerable capacity for work and his own unique intellect and in the process had set up a system of management for the fiscus which left very little room for maneuver. We had to "eat what we killed" he once famously said and put the State onto a strictly controlled and managed cash basis.
Zanu PF fiscal delinquency over the previous 30 years had left Biti with a $13 billion pile of debt and 15 years of arrears in debt payments to creditors, there was no capacity to borrow to fill gaps in the cash flow and no one, not even the Chinese were interested in giving the country any assistance without tights strings attached.
On top of that Biti had negotiated a "Staff Monitored Programme" (SMP) with the IMF and got it agreed by the Cabinet and, perhaps more importantly, signed by President Mugabe.
In effect the new Minister found himself zipped into a straight jacket that left very little room for discretion of change. His discussions in Washington went very well and his consistent message that the new government would respect the undertakings already given under the SMP and in previous exchanges with the multilaterals was well received, but his appeals for help to meet recurrent costs was met with a solid stone wall.
Until we complied with the SMP over an extended period and demonstrated more than just verbal undertakings, the only available money would be political in character and these doors were closed to us by the failure of the GPA process.
He returned from Washington and walked straight into a storm. Undertakings to scrap balances owing to local authorities and parastatals such as ZESA, promises of wage increases for the Civil Service plunged the State and local authorities into a crisis as revenues collapsed and the Service demanded action.
On top of this crisis the Banking sector, already burdened with non performing debt, slipped further into bankruptcy. 9 commercial banks were virtually insolvent and the Reserve Bank completely insolvent with liabilities of over $1,4 billion. In desperation he announced that he needed more time and that he might only present the next budget in January 2014.
In his first clear statement on policy he called for the State to observe 5 key issues as it tried to find a way forward:
1. Consistency of policy and message, especially on the issues of indigenisation and land tenure.
2. How to establish the capacity of the Reserve Bank and restore stability to the banking sector as a whole.
3. Implement the new blue print as set out in the yet to be disclosed Zim Asset programme.
4. Maintenance of the multi currency regime (US$).
5. Securitisation of the resources sector and in particular diamonds.
Since then there have been frantic moves behind the scenes to deal with various key issues – discussions with the Civil Service, debates on the future of Gideon Gono who retires from the Reserve Bank this month.
Moderating the whole indigenisation issue and tentative feelers towards the Commercial Farmers Union on a possible deal for agriculture as the country once again faces a season in which agriculture will fail to deliver.
Their main problem is that no one trusts them and they have to move more openly and make firm commitments in public on many issues that they have previously vigorously denied or declared that they would never countenance.
How does Zanu PF do a U turn on indigenisation or the role of white farmers in our crippled agricultural system; can they put the economy back on its feet if they do not do so – no one thinks that they can.
So Ministers are stuck between a proverbial hard rock and the deep blue sea and most of them cannot swim.
Nothing reveals the hard realities that the new regime faces than the question of corruption. In his opening speech to the 8th Parliament the President had attacked corruption and promised that it would be dealt with.
In subsequent speeches his faithful in both Houses have strongly endorsed his views, but the reality is that I cannot think of a single Minister (perhaps one and even he is questionable) that is not guilty of gross corruption.
The harsh reality is that no single Zanu PF leader of any stature could stand up to an audit of their assets and sources of the income that supports their lavish lifestyles. This exercise would have to be extended to senior Civil Servants and many senior Army Officers and other members of the security services.
In days after they took power, I heard of new corrupt deals in key sectors by Ministers. If Zanu PF does not get on top of all of these issues they simply cannot deliver what they have promised or even need to do to survive. It's a tall order and the first 100 days has shown that they are struggling to make the bar.
Eddie Cross
Bulawayo, 17th November 2013


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Explore this Article
Who doesn'tlove to forget the tensions and worries? It can make you feel better and goodfor sure but how can you do it?
For most of the people, drug abuse is the common method where the cigarette is widelypreferred to feel less tensed and getting rid of all the anxiety issues. But,if you don't want to get into any kind of issue, then you can prefer vape andquit smoking easily.
Many reason scan makes you prefer vaping, and this guide will focus on all the major reasons. Let's check out the top 5 reasons to quit smoking and start focusing on the implementation.
Keep in mind that you follow the tips carefully, and it will be easy to quit smoking. Let's begin by focusing on important factors.
1. Vape is the cheaper option
Most of the people think that if you are smoking a cigarette, then you are wasting less amount of money but if you compare it with a vape, then you are wrong.
A vape is a one-time investment where you have to buy the pod once and then it is all about buying the flavors whenever you want to take some puffs. In addition to this, you can easily buy vape flavors online.
Most of the websites will be offering amazing discounts. So, it is a great way to save your money and get all the discounts. You can rely on the selection of vape anderadicate all kind of issues.
Keep in mind that you choose the best website considering the reputation and reviews to buy vape pods online. It can easilymake you rely on and get the benefits.
2. Vape doesn't harm
The cigarette is going to decrease five minutes from your life, and a regular smoker usually opts for 3 to 7 cigarette per day. By this, they are harming their body way more than they should.
But, if you are taking vape puffs and do it on a daily basis, you won't even find a single reason to quit it. Even, it is better that you should turn to vape and then you are ready to gain all the benefits.
Vaping will make you gain the benefits in quick time where you can replace the cigarette. For smokers, it is a great opportunity to prefer vapes and start avoiding allthe issues.
Most of the smokers say that they quit smoking because they found vaping better and you can also try it out to quit the eviller thing.
3. Variety of Flavors
A number offlavors are available in the market which can help you out for sure. You canchoose from fruit name to tobacco for sure.
This will give you the same feel of smoking a cigarette, but the difference lies in that fact that you are taking puffs of vape.
So, you can easily rely on it and get all the benefits. Most of the manufacturers of flavor give better price deals on the purchase of smoking.
During thepurchase of vape pods, you have to stay selective. In addition to this, you cancheck out the types of vapes available online.
So, you have the reason to quit smoking and vape can make everything easier that's why you can rely on it. Keep in mind if you don't prefer a quality vape then you can end up tackling issues.
4. Vaping isn't smoking
Smoke produces when something burns, but when you are choosing vaping, then you are opting for a totally different method. You will feel better with the vape, and there are many reasons behind it.
Vaping is not smoking because there is liquid getting heated and converted into vapor state that's why it is called vaping, and you can find it less harmful.
In case, you are heading over to buy vape for the first time and don't know that which one to buy then focus on the quality, and you can also check out that how the vapes are made.
These will eradicate all the issues, and you can rely on it. Keep in mind that staying selective is necessary and you should opt for cheap ones.
5. Ability to customize
With a cigarette, you are not able to customize anything. You have burn cigarette and smoke it whereas the story is totally different from the vape.
You can find the smart vape pods with the feature of customization. In such cases, you need to set the temperature and such other things. It will be easy to change the density of vape and other factors. In simple words, you can get what you desired off.
Even if you are smoking shisha, you are getting into a number of issues, and it should be treated as soon as you can. For the betterment of your health, you can start toconsume vapes.
Make sure that you buy a quality vape from the reputed seller. On the other hand, you must check out reviews to avoid getting into any kind of issue. These methods will help you out in various manners, and you can rely on it for sure.
Where to buy vape?
In most ofthe countries, the vapes are available, but it is not available in the cornerstore or such other places.
If you are some who live in a metro city, then you can easily buy it. Otherwise, you have to find the best website. There are loads of websites which are selling vape pods online.
You should check out the reviews, the quality of services, how the vape pod work, the quality and price before buying it.
The same factors you can compare with many companies and then it will help take the best decision with ease.
The bottom line
Hope, this guidepost to quit smoking will come in handy to buy the best quality vape pods online.
Make sure that you stop smoking and start to consume vape for your health. These factors can easily make you quit smoke and gain all the benefits.
My name is Jennifer Johnson and I am a skin care specialist. I am one of the youngest specialists in Asia who is teaching nearly about 5000 students around the world. I am the owner of http://infoaging.org/ where I share skin care product review with all my audience.


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- Contact
- About Us
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The Rye YMCA honored three of its staff members for their hard work, innovation and commitment to excellence during a recent celebration at TD Bank. Executive Director Gregg Howells presented each awardee with a plaque and described their contributions to the Y's member-centric, cause-driven work.
The winners were:
Kathy Lynam: Excellence in Innovation Award
The Excellence in Innovation Award is given annually to a Y employee or team that has submitted or developed the most innovative process, policy or program during the previous year. Kathy, who is the Senior Program Director for Family, Camp and Childcare, was recognized for developing and implementing the Rye Y's new Pre-School Enrichment Program, which offers a valuable service to our community. During her 15 years at the Rye Y, Kathy has shown creativity, commitment, and leadership in everything she tackles.
Andrea Robinson: Spirit, Mind & Body Award
The Spirit, Mind and Body Award to given to an employee who embodies the positive values and character of the YMCA in everything he or she does. As the Y's Human Resources Director, Andrea juggles the paperwork and professional needs of hundreds of employees and volunteers, all with good humor and a passion for the Y's mission. Whether it's leading a Zumba class, organizing an ice cream social, or promoting staff mentorships, Andrea is a team player who always has the best interests of the Y and its employees in mind.
Liliana Gudino: Quality Keepers Award
The Quality Keeper is a person who exemplifies the Y's values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. Since 2014, when she started as a summer camp counselor, Liliana has been promoted several times, moving up as a valued member of the Y's camp and child care team. She is a true professional who makes it a priority to help everyone. In June 2019, Liliana became the Rye Y's new Child Care Director.
"The Rye Y is fortunate to have an exceptional staff," remarked Howells. "They work hard every day to support our members and strengthen the communities we serve. And they make a measurable, positive impact in a myriad of ways. It's a pleasure to recognize their accomplishments and celebrate their commitment."
Thank you to TD Bank for generously hosting this event.
© Rye YMCA. All Rights Reserved. Site by Stark.


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Cafe Phone #
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Posts Tagged 'fullerton desserts'
Looking to treat yourself? The Brownstone Cafe is setting out some new holiday theamed dessert bars along with our classic desserts! Try our new yule log bar or a scrumptious snowball!
Tasty Explosion! We have combined some of everyone's favorite treats into one!
Chocolate Brownie Waffle for dessert!!!
Close your eyes and imagine this….A rich chocolate brownie, still hot from the iron, topped with creamy whipped cream, fresh sweet sliced strawberries with a choclate drizzle to top it all off.
Sound good, huh? SO, wipe the drool off your lip and get yourself a Chocolate Brownie Waffle only at The Brownstone Cafe in Fullerton to enjoy with a friend…OR NOT! We won't judge. 😉
Only $6. Enjoy with a cup of a French Roast coffee 🙂
We Cater!See what we can do


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THE ROOKIE (Galactic Football League Book 1)
By Scott Sigler / Genre: Space Opera, Science Fiction
Set in a lethal pro football league 700 years in the future, THE ROOKIE is a story that combines the intense gridiron action of "Any Given Sunday" with the space opera style of "Star Wars" and the criminal underworld of "The Godfather." Aliens and humans alike play positions based on physiology, creating receivers that jump 25 feet into the air, linemen that bench-press 1,200 pounds, and linebackers that literally want to eat you. Organized crime runs every franchise, games are fixed and rival players are assassinated.
Follow the story of Quentin Barnes, a 19-year-old quarterback prodigy that has been raised all his life to hate, and kill, those aliens. Quentin must deal with his racism and learn to lead, or he'll wind up just another stat in the column marked "killed on the field."
Free as of 05/29/18 for Kindle. Click here to find out if this book is still FREE.
KEPT (Reckless Falls Book 1)
By Vivian Lux / Genre: Women's Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
I hate Cole Granger.
When he left me, I didn't let him see me cry.
But I still hate his guts. Eight years hasn't changed that.
I hate his cocky smirk, with that deep dimple on his cheek he thinks is so charming.
And I hate the way my body still melts at the thought of him.
Now he's back in Reckless Falls.
Flirting with me, charming me, driving me wild.
I still hate him.
I still want him.
Nothing has changed…
Has he?
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Interface: A Techno-Thriller (The Interface Series Book 1)
By Tony Batton / Genre: Technothrillers, Mystery & Thrillers
Tom Faraday – new employee at the famous CERUS Biotech – wakes up after a Friday night party to find it's Monday, and he's lost the entire weekend. And that's only the start of his problems…
25 years ago CERUS crossed boundaries that should not have been crossed. With Tom's help, they're about to try again. And what they have in mind will change everything.
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Dreams of a Highlander (Arch Through Time Book 1)
By Katy Baker / Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Darcy Greenway has no time for love. As a dedicated veterinarian her career and her patients come first. But since the death of her parents she's been running, searching. She just doesn't know what for.
On a much-needed vacation to Scotland she walks under a natural archway on the shore of a loch and finds herself catapulted into the sixteenth century…and right into the middle of a clan war.
Stranded in a world of danger and passion, Darcy finds herself drawn to Quinn MacFarlane, the brave Scottish warrior who swears to protect her. But Quinn has secrets of his own. Haunted by his failure to save his brother, his vow might be the very thing that keeps them apart. Because he'll protect her from everyone – even himself.
With enemies closing in, Darcy must make a choice. Should she return home or should she risk her heart on her dream of a Highlander?
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Murder at Veranda House (Texas Heroines in Peril)
By Cheryl Bolen / Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Murder at Veranda House
Texas Heroines in Peril
Heat Index: Hot
Lovely young widow Annette Holcombe is forced to turn her Veranda House on Galveston Island into a B & B after the recent death of her husband, a man she'd known only a short time. Upon his untimely death, she learns that the only thing she really knew about him was that everything she knew about him was a lie!
And if being penniless wasn't bad enough, now Annette's got to contend with threatening letters, suspicious guests, fears for her daughter's safety, an impending hurricane – and murder! If only there was someone to trust. Someone like Dr. Grant Garrison, a personable, good-looking guest who's teaching at the island's medical school.
But Grant, too, isn't what he seems.
Free as of 05/29/18 for Kindle. Click here to find out if this book is still FREE.
You're not my monster!: Help Kids Overcome their Fears. (Bedtimes Story Fiction Children's Picture Book Book 1)
By Sigal Adler / Genre: Bedtime & Dreaming, Children's eBooks
Help Kids Overcome their Fears
When little Dan started to sleep on his own
His parents were proud of how much he'd grown
They gave him a monster, a sweet little doll
To prove to the world – he was not scared at all!
Free as of 05/29/18 for Kindle. Click here to find out if this book is still FREE.
Mediterranean Diet Weight Loss Solution: 2 Weeks to Rapid Weight Loss, Getting Healthier, and Upgrading Your Lifestyle (Easy and Tasty Mediterranean Diet Recipes for Weight Loss and Overall Health)
By Maria C. Lucy / Genre: French, European, Regional & International, Cookbooks, Food & Wine
Do you want a healthy lifestyle? Do you want to lose weight? Of course you do. Eating a Mediterranean diet is a way of life, with an abundance of food choices. Even enjoy a glass of red wine to relax at the end of a busy day.This book explains the benefits of Mediterranean foods, along with over70 recipes to get you started. Even better, we have provided a 2-week meal plan. To lose weight the Mediterranean way, you don't need to count calories or carbs, or anything else for that matter. Simply follow our guide of eating Mediterranean style, and you will love it. It has been proven scientifically that the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest way to feed yourself, and your loved ones. By eliminating all the wrong types of fat in your food and replacing them with extra virgin olive oil; losing weight is inevitable. Learn through the guided Q&As, and sample the recipes. Other than weight, what have you got to lose?
Free as of 05/29/18 for Kindle. Click here to find out if this book is still FREE.
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Texas will play host again this weekend as it continues conference play in preparation for the Big 12 Championships. Texas Tech will face the Longhorns at the Penick-Allison Tennis Center on Sunday.
Texas needs to win the match to maintain a winning record in conference play — the win would put them at 3-2 against Big 12 foes and behind only Baylor and Oklahoma in the conference standings heading into the Big 12 Championships.
The Red Raiders are at a must-win point in their season as they face TCU and Texas this weekend. If they cannot pull off an upset against either team, they might be knocked out of the NCAA Championships. That means they'll be out for blood if they lose to TCU when they roll into Austin on Sunday. The Longhorns will need to be ready, focused and determined if they are to finish the season strong.
And Texas does have the capability of playing well if given the opportunity. Sophomore standout Soren Hess-Olesen leads the Longhorns, but they have a solid group of upperclassmen and underclassmen who can perform. Daniel Whitehead, Lloyd Glasspool, Nick Naumann, Sudanwa Sitaram. All of these guys can step up and play big-time if the situation calls for it.
The first match is set to begin at 1 p.m.


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Social Media Marketing SOS: What's the Message in Your Bottle?
Admit it, as distracted and "over-sold" to as we are in our own lives, finding just the right ways to engage with our customers, particularly in building a social media marketing strategy, can feel a lot like launching a message in bottle.
I know in my own business, I sometimes sit back and observe clients, friends and family members who just can't seem to stay on top of any of the details of their lives. Coworkers that are unable to meet the simplest deadlines. Constant rescheduling, missed appointments or an inability to get through to someone even though they always have their phones within arm's reach. It's an epidemic, and most people's energy seems stretched beyond the demands of just getting through the day. I certainly don't want to add to the crankiness and distress by flooding their social media channels with a hard sell for my services. They have enough companies doing that already, why would mine make an impression?
In these distracted days overloaded with way too much information bombarding us from all directions, finding the right social media marketing strategy is all about value. What kind of value is the message in your bottle bringing to your potential customers? How will it solve a problem for them? Weaving your value position throughout your social media content is more important than ever. Here are five essential aspects of creating a message with value :
1. Know yourself and your product—if you are constantly switching messages no one will see any of them. Stick with a few simple concepts to precisely describe what you offer.
2. Know your customers and where they are online—sending a message out into an ocean of people who are NOT your ideal customers is a supreme time-waster for small business, even if you think it's the coolest message EVER. If your demographic is not on Instagram, why are you?
3. Know your customers' influencers—what tips the scale for them in making buying decisions? Friends, authority figures, celebrities, other business owners, local movers and shakers? Use your customers' influencers to get their attention.
4. Solve a problem—entertaining or not, if your social media marketing doesn't solve a problem for your customers, why would they buy? Identify the problem you are solving for them right off the bat and repeat it in new and interesting ways.
5. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes getting even short-term perspective from a professional or other business owners can make a huge difference in getting your social media marketing campaign on track. As a small business owner you have your hands full running your business. Don't expect yourself to be an expert marketer without help!
Need some assistance with identifying the right message to put in your social media marketing bottle? KLCreative Media has affordable and easy-to-maintain solutions. Contact us today for a free 30 minute consultation!