Which Binding Machine Is Best For You And Why?

Do you regularly produce printed documents and sales
materials for your business that need an extra touch to
make them look totally professional? Would you like to
handle more of your company's printing in-house instead of
paying to outsource the work to another company? Investing
in a binding machine will turn the printed products you
produce for your clients and customers into
professional-looking material that will give your business
the edge.

So, how can a binding machine prove useful to you in your
particular line of business? It can be used to
professionally bind a range of documents that include
policy documents, brochures, contracts, training manuals
and quotations of work for clients. Binding a large
document makes it easier to use and consult regularly, as
well as keeping all the pages together and in the order
intended.

There are many different types of binding machines and the
best one for you will be dependent on your particular
office and business needs. Do you require a binding machine
that can bind mass copies of documents for employees, or a
machine that will create a high-end look for your sales
materials? Furthermore, some documents need to be bound to
travel well by post, while others may comprise part of a
formal presentation that you would like to look good on a
shelf in your office.

Other points to consider when researching your binding
machine purchase include whether or not you will need to
bind documents with a few or several pages and whether you
will need to use your binding machine frequently during
each working day, or if it is going to a be a purchase
intended for occasional and light use. It can be a poor
investment to buy a lower capacity and strength binder that
doesn't meet your business needs and will soon to be
replaced. Equally, you do not want to spend money on a
binder with specifications that far exceed your
requirements and will, in fact, be used infrequently.

Documents are bound for a number of reasons and taking some
time to consider what your particular needs are in terms of
binding will also help you when you come to evaluate which
is the best type of binding machine for your needs. If you
are looking to bind documents to keep them safely stored
together, the quality of the presentation of your bound
document is less of a factor than if you are creating sales
brochures and other all-important documents to market and
document your business to clients.

The variety of ways to bind a document are several, with
comb-binding being the most widespread and well-known
binding format. Comb binders are quick and easy to use and
are very popular in schools, colleges and small businesses.
Comb binders also have the added attraction of being
hard-wearing and reusable and comb binding machines are
available in both manual and electric options, with the
type of comb binder you choose being dependent on the
volume of documents you will need to bind.

Standard comb binding machines work by punching a row of 19
holes down the longer side of your A4 document. You then
use the machine to open the plastic comb, after which you
insert the plastic comb into the pre-punched holes –
the document is secure once you have closed the comb. An
electric comb binding machine will take the manual element
out of this process. A comb binding machine can generally
handle a document with a paper stack of up to two inches
and comb binding machines remain a highly popular choice.

As it is the most popular form of binding, there is a vast
array of comb binders available on the market and prices
range from well below £100 to upwards of £1000
– although, at any price, a comb binder is a sound
investment. Manufacturers include Acco Rexel, GBC, Fellowes
and ibico. A reputable supplier will be able to guide you
through the buying process and offer you a strong selection
of different comb binders to help you choose the right
binder for your office or business requirements.

Coil binding machines produce bound documents that are
easily recognisable as bound and coil binding machines are
very popular – particularly in educational and
community establishments – and easy to use. Coil
binders are available as manually or electrically-operated,
with electrical models being more suitable for machines
that will have a high volume of usage. As coils come in a
variety of colours, they are useful for creating cheerful
and fun bound documents. The advantages of coil bound
documents include that they can be opened 360º, that
they are very durable and that your coil bound document can
lie flat or stay open when propped up.

Wire binding is another easily recognisable binding format
and wire-bound documents have an elegant and streamlined
look to them. Wire-bound documents are easy to read and
manipulate and very durable. There are three different
types of wire binding, with each type punching holes in the
document at different rates. The Spiral-O type of wire
binder is very similar to a comb binder – in that it
punches the same number of holes in an A4 document as a
comb binder does. Some dual-purpose binding machines are
available on the market – offering both comb binding
and Spiral-O wire binding capabilities in one machine for
added flexibility and choice.

Thermal binding is a good, high-volume binding option for
when time is limited. Thermal-bound documents are bound
permanently inside a thermal cover and create a finished
look without holes being punched in the document. Thermal
binding is useful for creating a quality look to your
documents and presentations and thermal binding machines
are very easy to use.

Thermal binding uses pre-glued spines, which are
custom-made for your thermal binding machine. The document
is inserted into the machine, so that it lies within the
pre-glued spine, and the machine that heats the glue up
rapidly to a high temperature. Once the glue has cooled
down, your document is bound, without holes, to give a
streamlined look.

Perfect binding is another glue-based binding solution and
perfect binding machines are particularly suited to low
volume use, as are thermal binding machines. The document
you wish to bind is placed into the machine and then sealed
with quality glue at a high temperature, before the machine
cools the glue down again to prepare the bound document for
use. Perfect binders work quickly and are a suitable option
for users who would like to bind their documents without
any binding accessories to create a sleek look.

Tape binding and ibiClick binding are other forms of
binding. The wide range and quality of binding machines
available on the market today reflects the variety of ways
that can be found to bind a document – a good quality
retailer, who offers a wide selection of binding machines,
will be able to guide you towards making the right choice
for your particular needs.

----------------------------------------------------
ABT are an established supplier of binders and a vast range
of other office equipment and furnishings at hard-to-beat
prices with unrivalled customer service. ABT's range of
binding machines is available to view online –
http://www.print-finishing-paper-handling.co.uk/binding/inde
x.htm

Omega Watches Continues to World Wide Fame

With hundreds of collections of watches to choose from and
even more models, it can be difficult to decipher what is
best for you. Luckily, Omega watches make that selection a
little easier. With its unique design and impeccable
precision, Omega has maintained its popularity and appeal
for generations.

Omega watches are extremely versatile, providing buyers
with a watch that can be worn during sporting events or in
the office. Founded in 1885, the Omega watch company
started off with a creative design and quality materials.
It became an instant hit among the public and as the
company grew and developed, the watches became more
universally recognized.

The high-quality timepieces, quality materials and
resilience have assisted in making Omega popular worldwide.
Because of its precision and dependability, it's no wonder
that the various watches have been used for a number of
sporting events over time. A sporting event that is
dependent on accurate timing, the Olympics, used Omega
watches for years.

Dating all the way back to 1916, the company began
designing and building their watches for military use.
Because of its reputation for precision, it continues to be
used for many military purposes today. Having military use
and use in the Olympics is an impressive feat to say the
least.

With all of that said, perhaps the biggest accomplishment
still hasn't even been mentioned. In 1969, Neil Armstrong
sported an Omega watch to his journey on the moon. It is
these kinds of things that have made Omega what it is
today. Because of their impressive resume, it is by far
one of the most recognizable watches worldwide.

What is so impressive about Omega is that it is well-known
and used widely for important events, but is also a
reasonably priced watch for the everyday consumer. There
are a number of collections Omega offers, giving people a
wide selection to find what suits them. Whether you want a
leather strap or a stainless steel, you will find it within
one of the many collections.

As expected, the number of watches Omega offers continues
to grow to stay with the competition. Every year, Omega
offers something new keeping the public satisfied with new
and innovative watches to choose from. Because of this,
Omega continues to be one of the most recognizable and
impressive watch companies in the market. And with new
collections continuing to be designed, there are no signs
of Omega slowing down any time soon.

----------------------------------------------------
For information on Luxury watches visit our watch
superstore at watchesonnet.com
(http://www.watchesonnet.com). To find your perfect Omega
Watch visit our Omega Watches Section
http://www.watchesonnet.com/Omega.html).

Rules Governing Articles of Association During A Company Formation

The Articles of Association of every company must adhere to
certain administrative rules in that they must be printed
and divided into paragraphs numbered consecutively. When
submitting the Articles of Association to Companies House
during a company formation they Articles must also be
signed by the same persons who have signed as subscribers
to the company formation Memorandum of Association.

The Articles of Association is a long document set out in a
specific manner and covering items such as the issue and
allotment of shares and capital, procedures to be adopted
at meetings, borrowing powers and precise details relaying
to the office of director. It is normal for the Articles of
Association to state rules on the appointment, voting and
removal of directors.

A company limited by shares can adopt a standard set of
Articles, Table A. When a new company limited by shares is
being formed and adopts Table A unmodified it is not
required that the new company submits Articles of
Association. However when adopting Table A unmodified the
persons forming a company must include a letter to
Companies House stating that the Articles of Association,
Table A are being adopted in unmodified terms.

Table A is a standard set of Articles of Association for a
company limited by shares. The unmodified Table A can be
changed at a later date after the limited liability company
formation by special resolution which should be approved by
the members in a general meeting.

After passing the special resolution to change the Articles
of Association a copy of that resolution must then be
registered with the Company registrar. In addition all
future copies of the Articles of Association should include
the modification

If Table A is adopted without modification then the company
being formed must appoint at least two directors. A private
company can have just one director provided the Articles of
Association permit a single director in which case a
modified Table A must be delivered to Companies House
incorporating the changes made.

Every new limited company must have at least one director
and one company secretary. A sole director may not also be
the company secretary while if there are two or more
directors one of those directors can also be designated and
act as company secretary.

No special qualifications are required for the company
secretary of a small private company. Qualifications are
required for the post of company secretary in a public
limited company

Different company registration rules apply for a company
that is not a company limited by shares. Other model sets
of Articles of Association would be applicable and must be
delivered to Companies House when forming a company and
completing the company registration. Tables C, D and E are
Articles of Association applicable to a company limited by
guarantee both with and without shares and an unlimited
company.

One essential consideration every potential member of a new
company should be to read and understand the provisions
contained within the Articles of Association. When a
business goes well and all members and directors are in
agreement few problems arise. But nothing lasts forever and
excluding amending the Articles of Association future
directors and their relationship with each other and
management of the company are governed by the Articles.

It is quite common for a company that has a controlling
shareholder to adopt a modified set of Articles. Such
modifications generally removing many of the restrictive
practises a director may adopt with other changes to voting
rights.

----------------------------------------------------
Terry Cartwright, a Chartered Company Secretary, provides
inexpensive company formation packs at
http://www.diyaccounting.co.uk/company.htm and a limited
liability company formation incorporation service at
http://www.diyaccounting.co.uk/company.htm for individuals
starting a limited company

Three Questions to Answer BEFORE You Spend One Cent on Advertising

I worked my way through college employed at a termite and
pest control company. Pretty humble beginnings for an
aspiring leader!

In California, where I lived, a home cannot be bought or
sold without a clean bill of health from a termite and pest
control company. As they look for these wood eating
insects, termite inspectors also report any dry rot and
structural flaws in the property.

Which is how I spent a month one summer in Redwood City.

Our company had inspected an imposing turn-of-the-century
home that was being put on the real estate market for the
very first time in its storied history. The home rested,
not on a foundation, but on a dozen or so stacks of
concrete block. We had been contracted to bring this
building into the 20th century by putting a suitable
foundation underneath it.

The crew I worked on jacked up the house with a house jack,
cut the floor joists from the posts that rested on the
concrete blocks, dug a trench around the circumference of
the house, poured concrete, and lowered the house onto its
new foundation. What an ordeal!

It is far easier and less time consuming, to put a
foundation in first, and then build a house.

When it comes to advertising, most small businesses are
like this old house. Instead of doing the groundwork
necessary for success, they go out and build their
building: advertising here, advertising there, with varying
degrees of success. Thousands and thousands of dollars
later, most small business owners have no idea if any of
this expensive advertising had any impact at all.

Time spent on your foundation can solve this problem. Here
are three questions to answer BEFORE you spend one cent on
advertising:

1. Who is your target audience?

Who is the person most likely to use your products or
services? This is a counterintuitive practice called
narrowcasting. Instead of trying to reach everybody,
narrowcasting aims at a very specific, identifiable group
of people. Narrowcasting is essential for success in
today's crowded marketplace. If you are everything to
everyone, you are nothing to no one.

Take the time to know EXACTLY who you want to reach and
learn everything about him or her.

One of my small business clients did this by tracking all
the people who came into his store during a typical week.
From that exercise he was able to determine the age range
and gender of his primary target, professional women in
their late 30's and early 40's. This group comprised almost
two-thirds of everyone who came into his store.
Surprisingly, he also learned who was NOT his primary
target, young males 18-30, who comprised less that 5% of
foot traffic on a given week.

Then he went one step further. This small business owner
took 10-15 minutes with 25 of the women in his target and
asked them a dozen questions. From their responses he was
able to craft a profile of his target complete with likes,
dislikes, buying motives, children's ages, daily habits and
shaped his advertising by it.

2. What does your target audience read, listen to, or watch?

One of the questions you MUST ask your target audience is
what media outlets they read, listen to, or watch. Without
knowing this information, your advertising odds are no
better that the lottery's.

The dirty little secret in advertising sales is that most
buys are ego buys and have nothing to do with targeting. A
business owner likes the radio station, or drinks beers
after work with the ad rep, or wants to be a TV star in a
funny commercial.

If you want to be a star, go to open mic night and the
nearest comedy club. Don't gamble away your hard-earned
dollars on speculative advertising. Again, find out EXACTLY
what your target audience reads, listens to, or watches and
place your advertising ONLY on those mediums.

Here too, though, you must be strategic. Don't do something
one month in the newspaper and switch to the radio the next
month and then try a direct mail coupon book. Dominate a
medium that connects with your target.

If there is one secret to successful advertising, it is
this: repetition.

This means having your advertising run and run and run on
one medium so that it appears like you own that medium.
When you are sick of seeing or hearing your ad, GREAT, your
prospects are just now noticing it. Once you have dominated
a medium in this way, add a new advertising medium only
when you can dominate it as well.

3. What is your compelling benefit?

What do you say in your advertising now that you've defined
your target and are ready to dominate a medium that speaks
directly to them? Here, too, is where small businesses go
awry.

Recognize any of these words?

- Quality service
- Lowest price
- Serving the state since 1982

These slogans, and hundreds like them, mean nothing because
they don't say anything. A compelling benefit, however,
grabs your prospects by the throat and demands their
attention.

To craft your compelling benefit, you must first know your
competitive advantage. What do you do better than anyone
else in the business? Focus on that one thing and state it
in a powerful, succinct way. Sure you do other things, and
people will get to know that in time, but first you need a
clear, simple focus to your messaging.

Now take your competitive advantage and state specifically
how you will make a person's life different when they
experience it. Will you make them money? Keep them safe?
Bring greater health? Increase quality of life?

Here are two examples:

The Kingston Training Group specializes in teaching sales
people how to set first appointments. Their six word
slogan, all beginning with the letter M, is this: Make More
Meetings, Make More Money. Note the competitive advantage,
setting appointments, and the compelling benefit,
increasing income, stated in a memorable way. Perfect!

The benefit statement I have for my business is this: A
BETTER Business, A BETTER Life. I specialize in helping
small business owners build their business in a systematic
way that allows them to live the life they wanted when they
started it in the first place. Again, stated in just six
words.

This best part about this tool is that it is absolutely
free because words are free. Work on your words. Make them
simple, short, and powerful. Then build all your
advertising around them.

----------------------------------------------------
Bill Zipp, President of Leadership Link, Inc., is a
seasoned small business specialist. Bill has spent
thousands of hours working with hundreds of business
leaders, and his proven program, The Business Fitness™
System, provides a step-by-step plan for building a strong,
self-sustaining small business. For a FREE Special Report,
The 3 Biggest Killers of Small Businesses Today (And What
YOU Can Do About Them!) visit http://www.LeadershipLink.net
.

When Good Customer Service Reps Do Bad Things

Interesting when the economy does well how customers can be
taken for granted with so many customers to choose from,
organizations quickly forget those that placed them in
their current state- customers. Ironically, the cost of
acquisition to keep a client is less costly then trying to
find a new one.

Recent research stipulates that advertising expenses, web
development, television production and other media means
are simply too costly to the bottom line. Yet, rather than
focus on the core, organizations incessantly seek new
clients for business.

Recently, a client recommended a certain vendor to David.
In trying to secure a large print order David immediately
called the vendor, not once but five times. The call was
never returned and the vendor lost a significant six-figure
order. The question for you, "Are you losing business
before your eyes"? Delivering an experience that is
satisfying to customers and differentiated from competitors
drives both repeat visits and improved profitability.
However, poor experiences such as that above enable clients
such as David to test competitors and move freely to
others. Further, in today's competitive and quick paced
world, it is not difficult for someone like David to take
the remote control and switch quickly to the competition.
And if that does not work, they will switch again as
loyalty in today's market runs thin.

Family and Friends Plan

The cost of conducting business is very expensive.
Everything from gasoline to telecommunications is on the
rise. Ironically, maintaining clients costs less than one
third the cost of new client acquisition. Organizations
today fail to adopt the "Family and Friends Plan". One
negative interaction between client and vendor will be
shared amongst family, friends and neighbors. Recently a
real estate professionally securing a million dollar sales
agreement was asked by the same client to find a new home.
Being distant with the client by focusing on new client
acquisition, she not only lost the million- dollar sale but
a 1.2 million dollar purchase by the same client! Friends
and neighbors discovered the issue and now the agent's
sales are down 37%.

It's the little things I do an extensive amount of work
with a print and shipping operation not far from my home
office. Many vendors have opted for my services but I
prefer to go to Frank and Carol. They have a mutual passion
for serving the client. My visits are not about business
but rather interested friends exchanging pleasantries and
getter better acquainted each time. The pair knows the
names of my children their respective birthdays and even my
wife's! That is not just interest, not about friendship- it
is service differentiation. Further, one Sunday evening I
received a telephone call at 9:30 from Frank indicating the
completion of a job. He apologized for a two-day delay and
wanted me to know that the job was not only ready but was
on his tab. That is service with a smile and service that
continues to enable me to return time and time again.

Consistency

Effective operations and service experiences yield to the
bottom line. Consistent execution leads to repeat business
via customer loyalty and lower cost of operation.
Interestingly, and based on doctoral research prior to this
study happy clients, lead to happy employees and happy
employees lead to less attrition on both sides of the
operation.

Three businesses exemplify consistency;

1) Starbuck's always hires excited and passionate baristas.
Their energy and consistency help retain customer loyalty.
It is no wonder that consumers do not mind paying a premium
for coffee. Whether you are in Boise or Baton Rouge, you
the consumer will always be served in a similar fashion.

2) Southwest Airlines decreases the fair of flying by
offering a uniform fee with a passionate and energized
staff. Infrequently does one find a poor experience
traveling on this air carrier, that continues through the
years to continually post a significant profit.

3) McDonald's offers fast, reliable and efficient service
in any city. Employees are constantly willing and ready for
your order. And, while dietary issues have changed during
recent times, this fast food icon continually posts
profitable results.

Albeit each maintains a different demographic and
product/service focus, the differentiation between each and
its competitors is consistency in operation and operational
design. Customers repeatedly experience consistency each
and every time enabling a low cost, high return customer
loyalty program.

Standards for Excellence

A program or rather culture to achieve consistent
experience is difficult and arduous work. The first phase
is to assess critically where you are and where you want to
be. It is imperative to take pen to paper and ask both
customers and employees about their experience with the
organization. Seek trends and spikes in the data. Do not
ask for the why, but what and the how. There exist other
helpful ideas:

1. Make unannounced site visits if multiple locations or
simply watch operations. Use a critical eye here to denote
spikes in mission, vision and values of your organization.

2. Do not look for the obvious. Seek the rationale for the
little items. Ensure calls are answered in two to three
rings. Return calls within an allotted time from, for
example I return all client calls within reason within 90
minutes of receipt. Use thank you cards and remember
client's names.

3. Teach and Coach. Your clients as well as your customers
need the correct operational tools. If you seek
improvements they must be taught, as years of habit do not
immediately change. 4. Standards. Simply put, when change
is needed set standards and stick to them. These include
appearance, dress code, hiring, and client interaction. If
the culture does not exemplify the standards how might
clients remain loyal?

Clearly, globalization, the proliferation of the Internet
and the ease of entrepreneurialism have created a highly
competitive environment. Differentiation, loyalty,
consistency and execution are paramount for the client
experience. It is not conscious effort but the unconscious
sutelties that will help separate your organization, make
you different, maintain client loyalty and keep your
profits.

©2007 All Rights Reserved. Drew Stevens Ph.D.

----------------------------------------------------
Drew Stevens PhD
http://www.gettingtothefinishline.com
Drew Stevens Phd works with organizations to maximize sales
in less time. Drew can assist your organization with sales
or customer service. Order his latest book now, Split
Second Selling available on Amazon.com or at his
website,http://www.gettingtothefinishline.com/products.php