4 Desember 2009

How to Find the Renovation Contractor You Need

"Renovate" is one handy verb to use when describing improving a building, or a home, or a section of such a home. Two prominent types of renovations are commercial and residential. The first thing to implement prior to any renovation is to look into contacts that the people around you can refer; this way, you get to avoid con artists and fixers but also spot the best. The one pushing the project may be a professional albeit self-taught genius or some average homeowner, yet we all reach the point when we want to just step back and get professional home building or renovating. Yearly, an a remarkable amount is spent on projects with an equally remarkable range of difficulty: from bathroom to kitchen makeovers to high-rise access.

At the start of the project, our contractor will want to devote some time familiarizing oneself to the site about to undergo the change. The contractor ought to be local; they have an edge over outsiders if only on the matter of buildings and renovations laws. Is there anything to avoid and to be on the lookout for when looking for a renovation contractor to do some building renovations? Watch out for owner-contactor matchmaking services that put the spotlight on contractor members having underwent the necessary legalities, and with valid permit at that. On the contrary, they can misinform the owner misled by the false sense of security. For instance, it pays to know what differentiates a certified and a registered contractor.

If you run out of totally reliable sources of information in these matters, look them up in the BBB or the Better Business Bureau in your locality first before rubbing your elbows raw together with some worn local Yellow Pages. Maximize your time too by looking up home improvement contractors with less-than-polished records or with dubious and vague feedback. Of course, the web or the Information Superhighway is always a standalone archive of contacts with a good home improvement contractor waiting at the end. Try googling keywords like "contractors", or the name of some familiar professional that you are interested in, and you might also find some of his good affiliates in your own area.

When hiring your would-be contractor, it is standard practice to look up the validity of their insurance, licenses, bonding and other essential credentials. Ascertain who the references are and, if possible, ask about finished works similar to your current one. Get in touch with previous clients, since it might be worth pursuing. Think also if the contractor is could be contacted from start to finish, and if the contractor can update the owner regularly.

Just as importantly, check whether there is a chance that the project will be delayed in any way; is there a way to spot and do away with these delaying elements? Why not get to meet previous satisfied customers too? If the contractor thinks likewise, pay a visit to the contractor's former project to see how work on the structure was accomplished.

Lori Smith a webmaster of TrueBlueContractors.com allows contractors to spend less money advertising, give fewer estimates, and get more work.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lori_T_Smith

Lori T Smith - EzineArticles Expert Author

Find More : design interior , home renovation , interior room , renovation services , interior bedroom , interior home design , contractor renovation

How to Open a Fashion Boutique

These are the first steps you will need to take in order to start a fashion boutique. You will want to start at least six months before the actual opening of your store, and a big part of the reason why is because buying works so far ahead of the season. For example, buying for fall closes in April, holiday closes mid August, and Spring closes at the end of the year before.

Create A Business Plan
This is a given. Be sure to think about everything you'll need to budget for; supplies, advertising, services and of course merchandise. It never hurts to inquire about advertising prices and what not ahead of time. If your store is brick and mortar, you'll need to get with a real estate agent and start looking for a location. And be ready for paperwork galore! You'll need at least a wholesale license, EID and business license before you begin.

Get the Merchandise
You'll need to decide what brands you want to carry. However, the catch is that just because you want to carry a brand doesn't mean you'll be able to. A lot of this depends on where your store is located (even if it's online). On top of that, some labels are just very picky and protective of their brand. So be sure to have a long list of lines that you like, and inquire before settling your mind on anything.

Once you have your shortlist, get in touch with the lines sales rep. The sales rep is usually the one who you'll do all your buying through, and there are different reps depending on where you live (usually East Coast and West Coast). If you're on the West Coast, take a look through the LA Fashion Wholesale Index to find out who the rep is and how to get in contact with him or her. It's also good to look on the labels official website for sales rep, wholesale or showroom info. Once you have the information on hand, email the sales rep and ask for a linesheet (it's good to include a bit of info about the store as well, even if it's new). The linesheet will show you all of the styles for the upcoming season as well as the wholesale prices. From here you can plan your merchandise budget and choose which labels are best for your store.

Eventually make an appointment with the rep to see the clothing in person. This is usually done during market week, which comes up about every three months. The biggest market is in New York, followed by Los Angeles as well as Atlanta and Chicago. There's also MAGIC in Las Vegas, the biggest fashion tradeshow in the country, happening twice yearly.

Prepare the Store
Now it's time to start buying a lot of the things you added to your budget. This includes store supplies, fixtures, and possibly even advertising. If you plan on having a website it's a good idea to start looking for ecommerce packages (Yahoo Small Business and Monster Commerce are good ones) and finding the right graphic designer to create a unique look for your store, and perhaps a coder to customize a few things. Chances are you'll need a photographer as well. It can take time to find people are who are truely skilled and reliable at these things, so it's never too early to start looking. Web developers especially can be quite fickle, so that's one thing you'll want to get started on as quickly as possible.

It's a good idea to take a look at other boutiques, both brick and mortar and online (if you're doing both) and see what their stores look like. Then you'll need to decide how you can do what they're doing but in your own unique way, and better.

Get an inside look at how to start a fashion boutique from an actual fashion boutique owner at Kimberly's blog OohLaLuxe.net.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kimberly_Joy

Find More : online boutique , beauty products , fashion online boutique , boutique shop , online clothes boutique , shopping boutique

3 Desember 2009

A Handbags Woman

A handbag or a purse is a necessary accessory for women. Not only are they fashionable but also functional. They answer the call to fashion as well as function. That’s what you can expect from a Sondra Roberts handbag. Handbags have been around for numerous generations. Ever since recorded history began, handbags have been known to be useful for women, and even men! A handbag is a true companion that holds things like wallets, keys, cell phones, debit/credit cards, tissues, business cards, lipsticks, blush, etc.

During the early years, handbags were not carried in the hand; instead women use to wear handbags around their waist. If you glance-back into the history of Ancient Egypt, you can easily get references that prove that both male and female wore small carrying bags. It was only after the early 20th century that the term handbag was becoming more popular and consequently the trend shifted to only women carrying handbags.

Women and handbags go hand in hand. She makes sure that all the things that she needs are easily accessible so that she is safeguarded for any occasion or event.

Handbags are so popular today because they are stylish, functional, and most of all a fashion statement in itself. Because of their popularity during emerging fashion trends, handbags come in different styles and sizes. Designer handbags are in vogue. Now let’s look into the different styles of handbags, they are as follows:

Satchel handbags - Satchel handbags are identified by two short handles and straps and are quite large. They are ideally meant for travel and journeys. Tote handbags - This kind of handbags displays a flaunting stylish-and-crazy fashion. Tote-bags vary in shapes, sizes, and materials. They have two handles and are usually made of canvas and are more durable than many other types of handbags. They are multi-purposed. They can be used to carry books, clothes, and even groceries. The lightweight of tote handbags also make it useful to be carried to the beach.

Shoulder handbags – Simply put, handbags that can be worn over the shoulder, are called shoulder handbags. They normally have one or two straps to secure over the shoulder.

Clutch handbags - They are small, rectangular in shape, and usually holds small items like keys, business cards, lipsticks, combs, etc. Great for evening and formal attire ladies!

Apart from the aforementioned varieties of handbags, there are also other styles of handbags. Shopper handbags, Messenger handbags, the Balentine Bag, the Accordion bag, Slings handbags, etc. are other styles of women handbags. For a full range, visit handbags by Sondra Roberts.

Amanda Pressley is a bagista.She dedicates most of her time to the latest handbag fashions and trends. In her spare time, Amanda writes in vogue articles on purses and handbags and she can be followed at her handbag blog.

Find More : handbag accessories , handbag online , handbag collection , prada handbags , designer handbags , leather handbag