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Using Medical Tourism to Protect Your Retirement Savings

For most retirees, and those nearing the age of retirement, finding new ways to maintain and stretch their nest eggs is essential. When an unplanned medical issue threatens to ruin years of careful financial planning, the results can be devastating. It is tragic when so many seniors are forced into making the difficult decision of receiving the healthcare they need, or facing the possibility of running out of money much earlier than they anticipated.

There is one growing solution to the problem of the high cost of quality healthcare in the U.S. which many retirement-minded people are turning to. This solution is medical tourism.

 

What is medical tourism and why is it a smart choice for those nearing retirement?

There are many misconceptions surrounding the meaning of medical tourism, and for some it has acquired an undeserved dubious reputation. But medical tourism has been around for a long time and the  simple definition of medical tourism is when a patient travels for the sole purpose of receiving healthcare. While domestic medical tourism exists within the US, the majority of medical tourists go overseas to receive treatment.

There are many reasons for choosing medical treatment abroad as an alternative to US-based medical care. Often the biggest factors in making the decision to seek healthcare abroad is based on the substantial savings it provides patients. Choosing to go abroad for medical care can save patients up to three-quarters of the cost of having the same procedure performed in the United States. These savings can make a real difference for a retiree on a fixed income and/or without adequate insurance to cover a needed procedure.

Not only will medical tourism save money during retirement, but it may also help seniors retire sooner. Many people delay retirement out of fear of lack of funding to cover unexpected and costly medical expenses. Their fears are somewhat justified, as medical debt in the U.S. is the leading cause of bankruptcy. However, medical tourism helps to decrease medical costs, which decreases the amount of funding needed to retire comfortably.

Medical tourism also offers one particularly important benefit for seniors: the ability to receive medical care which is not currently available in the US. While the Food and Drug Administration’s goal is to protect the welfare of all Americans from untested and potentially harmful medical treatments, the approval process for new treatments takes time. For many seniors with life-threatening illnesses, it is time which they don’t have. Many potentially life-saving and life-improving experimental and established treatments are performed each year, and available now, in foreign countries. Many seniors find the benefits of an overseas treatment outweighs the risks of undergoing a non-FDA approved procedure.

 

Is overseas medical treatment a suitable option for me?

Medical tourism is a great option, but it is not always the best one for every senior. If you are considering going abroad for medical treatment, it is critical to have a frank discussion with your current health providers, as well as your family. Although the final decisions about your health are your own, getting input from those who care about your well-being is helpful.

In addition to feedback from your family and doctors, you should ask yourself these questions before choosing medical tourism:

  • How quickly do you need the procedure performed? Medical tourism which demands travel to a foreign country may require obtaining a visa, booking flights, arranging pre- and post-procedure accommodations, and researching foreign healthcare facilities. Many countries with a strong medical tourism industry make this as easy as possible. Mexico, for example, is a booming medical tourism country that is a closeby option for Americans and Canadians.
  • Have you developed a plan for aftercare once you have returned to the US? When your procedure is complete abroad, it is essential to have access to aftercare in the US. Speak with your doctors to determine if they will be able to provide follow-up care, including medications, once you return home.
  • Are the benefits of medical tourism really worth it for you? While medical tourism can save money and provide access to more medical treatments, it is important to decide for yourself if medical tourism is right for you.

 

Use your retirement funds to enjoy your golden years, not to pay costly medical bills!

Expensive medical bills don’t have to eat away your retirement funds. Medical tourism is a growing solution that provides safe, less expensive treatment. Over 1 million Americans sought medical treatment abroad last year, will you be the next one?

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How to Choose Between Wood and Metal Drawer Slides

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When the time comes to choose between wood and metal drawer slides for your woodworking projects, the intended use of the drawers you are creating as well as the environmental conditions in which they will be used must be considered in order to make the best decision. Although metal slides have a number of advantages and are generally preferred over wood, in certain cases, such as traditional handmade furniture, wooden slides serve as a symbol of true authenticity and fine workmanship.

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Evaluate the Required Weight Capacity of Each Drawer

Determining how much weight each drawer will be required to support is important when selecting between wood and metal slides. Although high-quality metal slides can support several hundred pounds, they cannot compare to the load-bearing capacity of well-made, hardwood slides. Metal slides will most always have a lower weight capacity than wood slides, especially high-quality woods such as oak.

Many additional factors also come into play, such as smoothness of motion, the durability of each type of material, mounting configurations, etc., so even if you plan to store heavy objects such as hardware or tools in a particular drawer, wood may not necessarily be your best choice.

 

Smooth Operation and Functionality

Ball bearings allow metal slides to function in an extremely smooth manner, regardless of how frequently the drawer is used. Wooden slides, when well made and lubricated with candle wax, can approach the smooth feel of metal, but pose more risk of over extension and falling.

Metal slides provide over-extension protection, but do so at the cost of the extension loss, which is the difference between the length of the drawer and the slide itself. In longer drawers, an extension loss of a few inches may not create enough inconvenience to feel significant, but if you have a 12″ drawer with a 3 1/2″ loss, the difference is likely to have more impact. However, extension slides can correct this issue should you decide that metal slides are your best bet overall.

 

Geographical Location and Environmental Factors Affect Wood

Anyone who has ever lived in a humid environment can easily understand how dramatically wood is affected during wet times of the year. When selecting which type of slide best meets your needs, the surroundings in which the drawer will be required to function are some of the most important factors to consider.

Binding and distortion of drawers with wooden slides is common as the wood expands in response to moisture in the air, and anything less than exceptional workmanship in the original joinery and positioning will only add to the challenges. Conversely, metal slides are completely unaffected by humidity, providing consistently smooth operation every day of the year.

 

Metal Slides Provide a Larger Variety of Mounting Configurations

With metal slides, you have many additional configuration options compared to traditional wooden slides. Instead of being limited to center-mounted slides (which can be prone to racking side to side) or side mounted positions, specialty metal slides can provide a variety of mounting options. For example, entertainment centers may benefit from cabinet doors being able to slide out of sight. There are plenty of instances where an alternative to center or slide mounted door slides would be preferred, such as with computer desks. filing cabinets, and more.

 

How Much Time Do You Wish to Invest in Your Project?

The nature of the piece of furniture you are creating is likely to impact the amount of time you wish to invest in its creation. For example, if you are constructing dresser drawers and highly value traditional woodwork, wooden slides (despite their drawbacks) will clearly be your best choice. You will need to use extra care ensuring the joinery and positioning of the slides are exceptionally completed, as poorly constructed wooden slides do not fare well with the passage of time.

For the majority of other projects, the time saved with the use of metal slides is substantial. It is best to select and purchase the metal slides which will best meet your needs during the design phase of your project, to ensure proper fitting and simplify the installation process.

 

Allow Your Creativity to Guide You

When it comes to woodworking projects of any type, allowing your creativity to guide you will ultimately lead to a much more enjoyable construction experience and consequently, a higher quality end product. Ultimately, choosing between wood and metal drawer slides is a personal choice. For some, the sound and feel of well-made wooden slides more than compensates for any drawbacks. Keep functional considerations in mind, but don’t forget to let your creative side have a say in the matter, and have fun!

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Prohibited Items of Interest – Are the Following Prohibited or Not?

Airport Security Items

Airport security is very similar to postal security in the prohibited items list share distinctive similarities. You’re probably wondering how such a subject could interesting enough to write an article about, when in truth the prohibited items list remains one of the most fascinating authoritative  write-ups in existence.

You’ll definitely be surprised by some of the items that are on the list and others less so. What’s really interesting though is looking at some of the things you CAN take with you and they compare to some of the stuff that’s prohibited. Here are some examples of items that are either inevitably on the prohibited items list, debatable or potentially lucky not to be present….

Knitting Needles

It’s good news for those interested in arts and crafts as knitting needles are not on the TSA Prohibited Items list. There are ways in which a knitting needle could be harmful to other passengers of course, with their long length and pointed (albeit unsharpened) end capable of causing damage.

Needles do of curse come in a range of different shape and sizes though and you couldn’t blame security from taking a set of knitting needles that look more like a pair of medieval spears. They should also preferably be made from plastic or wood if you hope to avoid issues at security.

Dead Bodies

You might be surprised to learn that taking a dead body with you from one country to another is not allowed. Not so surprising then?

Well you’ll be baffled to learn that there are plenty of people out there who do their utmost to take dead bodies with them onto flights in order to save on the high costs of transporting a loved one who is deceased. From hiding the body in carry-on bags to making them appear alive, these incidences have been reported.

Snow Globes

Liquids aren’t meant to be transported in hand luggage, which is we have smaller versions that do pass the 3.4 ounces maximum liquid content. Snow globes are a popular tourist souvenir that many people worry may be present on the prohibited items list.

Well, as long as they contain less than 3.4 ounces of liquid they can be brought on board, but they also need to be stored in a re-sealable security bag. You can tell if a snow globe is too big to take with you if it’s larger than a tennis ball.

Scissors

A pretty standard item for most people is scissors, which may be required for arts and crafts for instance. However, they cannot be brought onto any flight in any circumstance. Most scissors have blades which are longer than 4 inches and this won’t pass security officials.

They will be classed as a sharp object and, let’s face it, could potentially cause harm to other passengers. You can acquire scissors wherever you are, so don’t take them on a plane with you!

Ice Skates

Despite the presence of blades on this type of footwear, hockey players and figure skaters alike can rejoice in the fact that they won’t be prevented from taking their ice skates with them on a flight.

The blades may prove to be a danger to fellow passengers, security officials will allow them on a flight. Your skates should be stored in a small bag that can be classified as a carry-on item.

Article provided by Rand Logistics, a market leading parcel broker with links to courier services across more than 240 countries worldwide – meaning you can send almost anywhere with great confidence and at the best possible price.

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5 Unbelievable Supercar Fails

Supercar

For most of us a Bugatti Veyron or a Lamborghini Aventador are only ever going to be owned in a dream. This does not mean we cannot enjoy these most luxurious of cars and aspire to one day be in a position to own the latest, fastest and most desirable cars, they often at their most enjoyable when their incredibly rich owner does something incredibly dumb in them.

Just take a moment to think about those that have just purchased their dream car, they are on the way back from the showroom, proud and beaming from ear to ear and then it happens. The car is too powerful, or they underestimate a corner and end up on a YouTube ‘supercar fails’ compilation video. Not the ideal way to show off your latest purchase, but it at least allows you and me to have a little smile at their (considerable) expense.

Below are 5 of our favourite supercar fails, showing you that showing off doesn’t always pay off. The only thing hurt in these videos was pride and those beautiful and very expensive cars.

Nissan GT-R – The Flying Car?

Just because you have all those horses doesn’t mean they all need to gallop at once, as the driver of this Nissan GT-R found out. Yes, being stuck behind a slow pickup truck can be frustrating but you need to gauge the road ahead when overtaking. Commence high-speed overtaking on a bouncy bit of road, just before a roundabout; as you can imagine it doesn’t turn out too well for this poor car. This video does show that we may just be closer to flying cars than we thought.

Bugatti Veyron – The Floating Car?

In one of the more bizarre supercar fails, the driver of this Bugatti Veyron appears to be admiring the scenery of the upcoming lake a little bit too much. It’s a lovely winter day and you are enjoying your £1 million car, not using excessive speed or doing anything out of the ordinary – unlike most other supercar fails – when all of a sudden you veer of course straight into that lake you’ve been admiring.

Whilst not necessarily the biggest or most epic supercar fail, you can’t help but wince at a £1 million car taking a swim.

Lamborghini Gallardo – Suburban Supercar

There is just something about supercars that make people want to film them. It’s not every day you see a Lamborghini Gallardo at a red light, so naturally the first thing you reach for is your video camera to record this chance meeting. Unfortunately for the driver of this £200,000 car, we are about to see him oversteer and incredibly squeeze himself between two cars.

If there is anywhere you don’t want to make a fool of yourself it is at the traffic lights, even less so when you are in the suburbs of one of the largest cities in America.

Off-Road Testing a Lamborghini Gallardo

The first thing that I think about when I look at a Lamborghini is ‘I bet that’s a good off roader’. The driver of this Gallardo wanted to test out the theory that Lamborghinis are better than Land Rovers. Clearly they are faster off road but if you don’t apply the brakes there’s only one place you are going to end up – in the dealership with a large bill to pay.

Ferrari Enzo – Making the News

You’re a famous comedian and have the pleasure of test driving someone else’s Ferrari Enzo. With only 400 ever produced the Enzo is a car where its value is increased each time there is a crash involving one, they are just so limited. The pressure of being on local news, driving someone else’s car and knowing there are so few Enzo’s in the world obviously got to Eddie Griffin in one of the worst understeering incidents you are likely to see.

Amazingly the owner came out of his Enzo being crashed on TV quite happy. He posed for photos with his Enzo wreck, had his insurance pay out 50% of his initial $650,000 cost and sold the wreckage for another $500,000. Not too horrendous for a chance meeting with a concrete barrier.

Article provided by FEV, a family-run fire extinguisher company established in 1990 and serving both commercial and motorsport markets to keep cars safe and fireproof ever since.

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5 Great Pets For Beginners

Triops

So you’ve decided to try out being a pet owner, but you don’t quite know where to start. Getting a cute bunny or a fluffy kitten might seem like an amazing idea but if you don’t know if you can handle looking after a pet, it might be better off if you start with something a little less challenging.

Many people don’t realise that when they plan to buy a pet, that pet is there 24/7. That includes evenings, weekends and even holidays. This means you have to arrange a sitter, or even drop the pet off at a special pet hotel for larger or more complicated pets and this can be expensive. Added to that the check-up costs, vets fees and injections and it can really add up. So if you’re not sure about owning a pet, try out one of these great pets for beginners!

  1. Triops

Triops are cute little shrimp-like creatures with a whole lotta legs! They come in kits with everything you need to take care of your first generation Triops. The eggs are tiny and once hatched the Triops are tinier still. They will grow to about 7cm long and normally take about 2 weeks to grow. They eat many different types of plant food and live from 8 – 14 weeks, but from about 10 days old they will lay eggs which you can cultivate into a whole new generation of Triops, so one kit will last a long time.

  1. Ant Farm

Another pet you can buy in a kit, or you could try and steal a colony from the great outdoors. We always recommend getting a kit as you don’t really want to be disturbing any wild ants by taking them from an established colony. A kit contains a tank complete with dirt and tunnels for the ants, the Queen, workers, eggs and larva and food enough to kick start your colony. They require minimal care, but it is important to keep them in a warm, dark place as the ants are used to living underground! Feed them using drops of honey, or small fruits and vegetables as ants will eat almost anything.

  1. Betta Fish

Happy fish in small bowls, Betta fish come in a variety of colours and are pretty sturdy, for fish! The bowl will need regular cleaning and water changes in order to keep the alkali and acid levels equal, and a water snail makes a good addition as it helps to keep the tank or bowl clean. Betta fish only need feeding every other day or so and their colourful scales make a good first choice for a pet.

  1. Rats

They might sound like a strange pet to get a beginner, but honestly they make fantastic pets and are easy to look after. Rats get a really bad reputation from their less-than-hygienic wild cousins, but they are smart and affectionate creatures that love to play and hate being alone (so two or more rats are ideal). They groom themselves, can learn tricks and come in a variety of colours. They make better pets than hamsters or gerbils as they are slower and easier to hold for children and they rarely bite. All you need to do is play with them and feed and clean them out regularly!

  1. Brine Shrimp (Sea Monkeys)

The perfect science experiment slash short term pet for beginners. Available in kits for under £20, Sea Monkeys live for anywhere between a few weeks and a few months. They are tiny shrimp like creatures that you can watch hatch and grow in your own tank and kits provide most, if not all of the supplies you need to keep them happy and healthy for their lifespan.

In most cases, you’ll find out pretty soon whether or not you (or your kids) have what it takes to look after pets if you try these simple pets out. They may feel like only one or two steps up from that ever hilarious joke pet rock, but if you can’t handle looking after them, then something more difficult like a kitten or a puppy will certainly not work. Animals are living beings too and they deserve a good life, no matter how short. If you’re not sure you can handle the time or the responsibility, it might be better to stick with a Tamagotchi and that is the unfortunate truth.

Article provided by Vale Vets; a family-run, London based veterinary surgery in operation for over 30 years.

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6 Top Office Refurbishment Tips

World Best Office Design

There are plenty of reasons why someone would consider going through a complete office overhaul, whether it’s to boost morale, make the most space or compensate for an increase in employees.

Office refurbishment has all kinds of advantages and is often the hidden solution to many problems that arise in the commercial environment. Here are some useful office refurbishment tips you can use to structure your overhaul so that it provides you with everything you’d need…

Company Image

If your company image requires a complete review and potential overhaul, it’s important that your refurbishment process matches these requirements. Image proves to be everything in a business environment and first impressions play a huge part in the success of a business.

One of the biggest aspects of a first impression come from the office and how it looks. Your clients will take note of your operations upon visiting your property, so make sure cluttering is at a minimum.

Being Environmentally Friendly

It’s both fashionable and vitally important to the welfare of the planet to be environmentally friendly as a company, while it’ll also be noted as part of your company image.

Architecture, technology and processes should all follow some kind of environmentally friendly checklist and you will likely attract more clients and boost overall morale.

Using Space More Efficiently

Using space efficiently is one of the most important aspects of any office refurbishment process and usually the main reason for wanting an overhaul.

Filing cabinets, desks and office dividers all take up space, so it’s all about how you use them to suit the space that you have. It’s a good idea to contact an expert in office reorganisation and refurbishment to give you an idea of how you should plan your new office.

Safety and Security

Offices that have not bene refurbished for some time may well lack the security and safety that is required to ensure employees and visitors are safe from potential harm.

Any hazardous situation in an office must be dealt with if you want to avoid potential legal action and you can do this through a complete overhaul of your office space. Carry out a risk assessment prior to the refurbishment project and you can deal with these issues accordingly.

Benefit to Employees

Office refurbishment can be used to your advantage and ultimately lead to a more motivated and inspired team of employees. Better working conditions can be created to make it more enjoyable for your employees to operate, which will in turn lead to more efficiency throughout the office.

Employees work far better when they are in an office that has everything they need within reach and provides a comfortable place to operate.

Look to the Future

Your office space should meet all of the above requirements and one of the best ways of achieving this is to look at how office refurbishments have changed over the years.

What’s more, you should also be looking at how you want your business to change over time and ensure that your office space can accommodate for any changes that could be in the pipeline over the coming years.

Article provided by www.completeinteriordesign.co.uk, a commercial interior fit out and office refurbishment business serving Surrey, Sussex, London and the rest of the Home Counties.

 

 

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Memorabilia to Remember, from the Rugby World Cup to Baseball – the booming Sport Souvenir industry

Rugby

With the eyes of the nation firmly on the Rugby World Cup and the action happening on the pitch across England & Wales, the huge business of sports memorabilia and souvenirs is in full flow. The sport memorabilia industry is worth an estimated £1 billion and with major events, like this year’s Rugby World Cup, the demand for a unique memory is hugely in demand.

Companies up and down the country are looking for ways to provide these memories through the manufacture and sell of items – ranging from a simple keyring right through to signed match shirts and bespoke jewellery. There are some amazing examples of sports memorabilia out there, ranging from keyrings and pin badges, right through to the rarest baseball jerseys that are worth millions of pounds.

Below we take a look at some different examples across this industry and see what memorabilia there is commemorating not only the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but also teams, tournaments and players of the past.

Key Rings

A staple in the gift and souvenir section of any sports club, key rings are a simple and functional gift for any sports fan. From key rings with the shirt design of your club and country to more elaborate designs, a key ring is an affordable way to cling on to the precious memories of the big game day.

Badges

Metal pin badges are a true collectable and event badges can only further enhance someone’s collections. With avid collectors after the latest badges this can be big business, regardless of the event. The Rugby World Cup has produced a number of metal pin badges, ranging from the official emblem to all 20 official match shirts. It’s not only a collector that may be interested in pin badges, it makes a nice subtle souvenir where you can wear it with pride without drawing attention to it.

Cufflinks

One of the more leftfield items being sold for the Rugby World Cup, you can pick up some silver, hand engraved cufflinks. Unlike a lot of event souvenirs, cufflinks are something useable in day-to-day life. For those that have to wear cuffed shirts for business, cufflinks are a great way to be able to either show support for a tem or event whilst still meeting the all-important appearance guidelines.

Playing shirts

The most obvious souvenir for a team is the replica playing shirt. Every team has one and each major tournament that comes around there are bespoke shirts made as a one off. The way to increase the value of these shirts even further is to get it signed. Having a signed shirt is a great piece of memorabilia and if you walk into any sports club you are sure to see at least one signed shirt.

Unique historic memorabilia

Outside of traditional sporting memorabilia, like the previously mentioned examples, there are some extraordinary pieces of historic memorabilia that sell for millions of pounds. A lot of these items were never for sale originally but have high significance to that sport or period of time.

One of the more fascinating pieces that has made its way through an auction house, selling for over £900,000, is the original rule book for Sheffield United Football Club. This item is looked upon as the first official document detailing the rules of football and therefore has huge historic value.

There is also a huge amount of money in significant baseballs in the USA. There are examples of baseballs being sold for $3 million (£1.9 million) for players that hit significant landmarks. The most expensive one to be sold at auction is Mark McGwire’s record breaking 70th Home Run baseball from the 1998 season.

Sports memorabilia is a large, ever growing industry and there will always be news stories about pieces that are sold for extortionate sums of money but for most people it is about having a souvenir of the big game. Whether it is the Rugby World Cup or a community sports tournament, there is always a desire for players and spectators to mark the occasion; this is unlikely to change any time in the future.

Article provided by Southern United; specialist label manufacturers and reputable suppliers of sports memorabilia – working with the aerospace, defence and commercial sectors.

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Small Changes, Big Differences – Ways To Increase Your Property Value

Nowadays with many properties in high demand and house prices rising ever higher, it can be hard for first time buyers to get onto the property ladder. However it also means that those trying to sell their properties can have some issues, as not everybody can afford mortgage repayments straight away. In order to give your property the very best chances of becoming a quick sale, you’ll want to look into some quick fix options that will help make it more appealing to prospective buyers.

Clear up the Front/Back Garden
An attractive exterior often makes all the difference when trying to sell as it is the first thing that any prospective buyers see, so it is important that first impressions are good. Plus, in many cases it doesn’t take much effort to clear away the weeds and debris in the front or back garden. Potential buyers may be put off by an unattractive property at first site, particularly if the garden is overgrown and unkempt, or there is rubbish in the garden.

If you are planning on getting rid of furniture and are hiring a skip, try not to leave it in the front garden as this can give off a really bad impression. You know those properties that have old car exoskeletons lying on their front lawn for years? Skips give off a similar vibe, like it or not. If you can, move the skip when conducting property viewings in order to give your home a good chance.

Potted Plants to Liven the Place up
Whether you have just run to the supermarket to grab a few potted plants, or you’ve been painstakingly cultivating them for a few months before-hand, potted plants are great for bringing light and life into a property. Try to keep it simple with a few vases of flowers; don’t buy exotic cactuses or plants that are hard to take care of otherwise it may seem like you are trying too hard. Something as plain as a vase of fresh flowers can really help to set the mood for visitors looking at purchasing your home.

Add Window Shutters
It might sound a little weird, but adding window shutters to your property create a beautiful uniform design that works on both the interior and exterior of your property. Window shutters are more durable and contemporary than blinds or curtains and they come in a variety of different materials and colours. Window shutters also give the idea of added privacy, which can be a real plus when selling your property.

New Paint!
This can sometimes be a double-edged sword as often new paint might look like a cover-up, but this can also give your property a new lease of life. If the current paint job is looking a little tired, perhaps try to paint it up a few months before you plan on selling it to give it that ‘new’ look without setting off warning bells about mould or damp.

Lighter colours work well to make the space appear larger, with darker colours providing a more enclosed, quaint sort of atmosphere so use different shades to your advantage. In many cases homeowners looking to sell will simply just paint their whole house white, as it symbolises a ‘clean slate’ and allows potential buyers to better envisage themselves in the home.

In general if you have done good to your property, it will do good to you, however some properties are in desperate need of attention and all it takes is a bit of spit and polish here and there in order to get them looking ship shape. Take care when selling your property and remember to keep this in mind; if you were a prospective buyer, would you like what you see?

Article provided by www.thewindowshuttercompany.co.uk, a Sussex based company specialising in beautiful bespoke interior window shutters that will transform a living space.

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4 Instances of Wildly Successful Visual Merchandising

Advertising has always been used to tug at the emotions, to make us feel or want to do something in response to the advertisement itself. Whether you are looking at a shop floor design, a national marketing campaign or just a simple poster, advertisement can be extremely persuasive if gone about the right way.

Whether love them or hate them, everyone has one or two advertisements they can remember that stick out in their minds for whatever reason. We’ll take a look at four perfect examples of great advertisements that made people think, and what effect it may have had on those people.

  1. Disney Side – Disney

Why not show your Disney Side? #disneyside was a widely popular campaign that saw shoppers coming ‘face to face’ with silhouettes of their favourite Disney characters. The set up; a simple shopping centre. A seemingly innocuous paper screen is placed along one wall of a shopping centre, making it look like an as of yet, unopened shop. Passers-by wouldn’t notice anything much out of the ordinary, but if you were to walk past at the right time you might see something a little strange about your shadow.

In the video shared by the Disney Parks, the first shopper doesn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, even though a silhouetted Mickey Mouse follows his move across the centre. In fact, the first few passers-by move along without a word. The first one to notice his silhouette replaced with Donald Duck is a young man on the phone, who hesitantly waves back. This quaint advertisement was all done in fun to ‘show your Disney side’ and is a great way of generating viral interest without seemingly trying to ‘sell’ anything.

  1. Monty The Penguin – John Lewis

This heart-warming Christmas advertisement showed the day-to-day life of a young boy and his ‘pet’ penguin. They get into all sorts of adventures, with the young boy even occasionally feeding his unwanted food to Monty. At the end of the advertisement, we see Monty united with his very own female penguin friend, as a much cherished Christmas present. Mother comes down with a cup of coffee to see her son playing with his new friends, who were in fact, plush toys all along.

It is a beautiful advertisement coupled with emotional scenes and music that takes us back to our childhood days, where stuffed toys had their own voices and personality. The caption ‘Give someone the Christmas they’ve been dreaming of’ nicely rounds off the campaign and makes the message of the advertisement very clear.

  1. 2 Euro T-Shirt

Designed as a social campaign for a cause, this advertisement is a little different. A bright gaudy turquoise vending machine is placed in the centre of a busy city. Inside the vending machine? T-shirts for a mere 2€. Once shoppers have inserted the money and chosen their needed size, instead of the shirt popping out, a small video is seen playing on a hidden monitor within the vending machine. The video shows women and children working hard, sewing t-shirts and other such clothing, without breaks, often in hard, life-threatening conditions.

At the end of the video a choice can be made; to donate the 2€ or to buy the T-shirt. Unsurprisingly, most chose to donate. It can be hard for charities and companies to ask us for our custom, particularly if it requires a monthly subscription and adverts on the television only get so far. To see how easily something as small as 2€ can change a life, without expecting to see it, can quickly tug on the heartstrings and that is exactly what this advertisement is doing.

  1. We Can Do It – Rosie the Riveter

One of the oldest and most well-known advertisements globally is still making the rounds as a magnet, keychain and poster even today. Throughout the Second World War, the Us government was having difficulty keeping construction lines working, what with many men being conscripted into the army at that time. It was therefore necessary; in the wake of women gaining their right to vote, to spur on women to ‘do their bit for the country’ and to take on more traditionally male roles.

While they were paid less than their male counterparts and were soon sent back to their traditional job of homemaker upon their husbands return ‘Rosie the Riveter’ has long been used as a symbol for female empowerment, as a sign that women can and will do a man’s job, and she will do it just as well.

Whether you are trying to sell a product or just trying to promote your new brand, advertisement is incredibly important. Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been put into promotion and advertisement design in order to get passers-by to stop, look and even buy certain products. By affecting our intended audiences emotions, or urging them to get out there and do something, we essentially encourage them towards a set goal on a subliminal level, using our product. Good advertisement is a solid power, so it is a great tool to use when promoting your brand or product.

Article provided by www.propstudios.co.uk, a multi-award winning design studio with a great experience and special focus on the design, project management and installation of bespoke luxury retail window display schemes.

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3 Themed Wedding Ideas You Will Not Want To Miss

Organising your wedding can be a long and stressful process, particularly if you are obsessed with always being bigger and better than other weddings you have attended. Whether you want to go down the classic route, or you want something a little more contemporary, themed weddings are a great way of combining your joint hobbies with your love for each other, and they can be great fun.

The Issue of Raising the Bar
Nowadays we are so constantly connected with everyone else in our social circles, we see everything everyone else is doing and feel a need to ‘one up’ them. Humans are competitive creatures and sometimes social media does more harm than good. If you constantly feel the need to raise the bar, you can have expectations too high for the event you are planning, which just leads to disappointment in the end.

It is a good idea to stay off social media in the months leading up to the event so that your decisions are not swayed by what ‘Mark’ or ‘Aubrey’ happened to get involved in the other week. Focus on your own wedding and put everything else to one side.

Why are themed weddings so popular?
People like being unique, but they also like to show homage to the things they love. They want to raise the bar and do something nobody has ever done before, but they also like to stick to what they know and what they know works. Themed weddings are a great way of combining these two needs and desires to reach a suitable conclusion.

Plus the fun thing about themed weddings is that they can be a real laugh. People can choose to be as subtle or go all out, it is their choice. You can also have unorthodox music and games at your wedding (Darth Vader’s theme while walking down the aisle anyone?) which makes it that much more memorable for everyone involved.

Below are a few fun ideas for themed weddings that we can really get behind (and we hope you do too!)

  1. Disney Princess

Who doesn’t want to be a princess for a day? Obviously more for the bride and bridesmaids of the wedding (although we can get grooms and groomsmen to be princes too), Disney is the epitome of the classical fairy tale, with beautiful sprawling gowns and flowing dresses. Whether you want to be the traditional Cinderella, someone a little more modern such as Tiana (Princess and the Frog) or someone a little unorthodox like Belle or Ariel (Beauty & The Beast, The Little Mermaid) fashioning your entire wedding after your chosen theme should be no problem, as Disney has a huge range of merchandise and themed accessories for Disney princesses alone.

  1. Game of Thrones

The recent popularity of the brutal TV show may have inspired some brides and grooms to be. Deck your attendees out in true fantasy gear with long trains, suits of armour and leather jerkins. You can also suit your buffet and food entertainment to the theme of the wedding, with different families assigned their own ‘House’ crests to specific tables. Just make sure not to make it too close to the show, as you don’t really want to re-enact ‘The Red Wedding’!

  1. Digital Wedding!

This one is a little strange, but often reserved for those who are big into their online gaming. There have been marriage ceremonies (as well as funerals – who knew?) performed on the globally famous World of Warcraft, where characters reflect their RL (real life) selves and get married ‘in game’. Of course the marriage isn’t actually official but it is a really sweet way of incorporating your love into the hobbies that you share.

Naturally weddings aren’t for everyone, but there is something exciting about getting married in general, planning the wedding, choosing your venue, even the lead up to the final day, those butterflies are an experience not to miss. However people are individuals and some prefer not to have a wedding, instead just living together as normal without proof of their dedication to one another. What matters is that you love and trust each other in the end.

At the end of the day a wedding is simply a visual and physical depiction of your love and commitment to the other person. They can be grandiose affairs or personal family events, it is up to you. The most important thing is that both of you enjoy your special day together, you don’t get too drunk, and you create beautiful memories on first day of your joined lives! Congratulations and good luck.

Article provided by www.gointernational.co.uk; Europe’s leading supplier of “Everything Party” including all kinds of fancy dress, party piece goodies and much more – for more than 25 years!