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6 Tips for Selecting Folding Arm Awnings for Your Store

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As a store owner, you need to care for your customers all the time. This doesn’t mean offering quality products only but also protecting them from harsh environmental conditions such as sun and rain. Folding arm outdoor awnings are a great way to protect your customers by bringing temperatures down and covering them from rain.

Apart from regulating the temperatures, an awning will also be a great way to market your brand. All you need is to get the one that is customized according to your brand. There are different types of folding arm awnings in Melbourne, and when choosing one for your store, you need to be careful. This article will give you six tips to select folding arm awnings for your store.

1. Comply with the law

The first step before choosing an outdoor canopy is to check the council requirements in your locality. Different states will have different rules, thus checking with authorities in your area is essential. Make sure the design you choose and the message you display on your awning is not against the law. If there is any fee to be paid, ensure you pay before installing the awning.

2. Consider size

The point here is to choose an awning that is proportional to your storefront. This will not only give your shop an excellent look but also save you on the cost. There is no need of getting an oversize awning that will cost you extra dollars and add no value. Size doesn’t matter when it comes to branding.

3. Store design

Awnings have different designs and colours, giving you a wide range to choose from. When you need to get one for your store, picking the one that will match with your store’s design and the colour is very important. By considering design and colour, the two will easily blend and avoid the hustle of repainting your shop. If your store has a protruding roof, don’t forget to consider it.

4. Consider your brand or logo

Store design and colour only are not enough to determine the colour you will choose for your awning. The brand you are trying to display is also a key factor to check on when selecting your awning. The canopy should have the same colour as your brand or logo, and if possible, you can have your brand logo printed on the awning. There are ready-made awnings and custom ones, making it possible for you to get anything you want. Imagine having a green canopy while your brand colour is yellow. It makes no sense!

5. Automatic or manual

Folding arm awnings come in two main types, that is manual and automatic ones. Automated awnings are operated using a remote, and they are easier to retract or wind out. They also have motion sensors which they use to sense excess wind and retract automatically. On the other hand, manual awnings are operated using the crank, and they are more challenging when it comes to withdrawing or winding out. Also, they require more attention as they don’t have motion sensors to sense strong winds.

6. Consider quality

Quality is always essential no matter what you are buying. Melbourne market is flooded with low-quality awnings that are sold at a lower price than the usual one. When shopping doesn’t go for cheaper awnings as they may break down after a few months after installation, costing you more than you would spend if you got good quality. It’s also a good idea to go for customized awnings although they may cost you more.

Summary

There are different types of outdoor awnings in the market, and when choosing one, you should be extra careful. Get your awnings from a reputable seller to get good quality that will last.

Top 5 reasons to invest in an office fit out

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office designing and fit out

I’ll set the scene for you. You’ve been working in your office for the past five years, and of late (thanks in no small part to your hard work) you’ve started to experience incredible growth for your business. You have a dedicated team have been working diligently by your side the whole time, grafting with you, and growing your business to the point where you want it to be.

You’re a young and funky team and you know that you have a lot to offer the creative and digital space that you are moving into, but there’s just one problem. You happen to occupy and work in an office building where the cubicles are drab and atmosphere-less, the walls are special colour of grey that no one’s ever really seen before, and the atmosphere in the office building could best be described as funeral. So what do you do here?

Studies have gone a long way towards suggesting that the environment that a business operates in impacts the output, and that’s exactly what I’m suggesting here. When you have a creative team – or any kind of team at all really, you need to have exposure to natural light, greenery; at least some kind of stimulus in order to experience the kind of results and output that you are after.

If you are looking to breeze a new lease of life into your office space, you need to have a very well designed workplace in order to get the results you want. We all want maximized productivity, limited downtime and a positive work environment – they are all huge parts of productivity. A new office fitout can help you!

I want to outline for you the top 5 reasons to invest in an office fit out so that you can move forward with your business success.

A new lease on life

When your business starts to expense growth (or continues to grow), it’s important that you grow your business surround with it. Companies with the best office fitouts in Sydney are usually the successful ones who saw the value of a well-designed office space for their teams.

Creative control

When you occupy an office building that has been decorated by previous tenants or a landlord, you have to deal with the poor design decisions that have been made before you. If you choose to invest in an office fit out, you are actually investing in the future of your business. This is a great decision for anyone looking to identify or re-identify their businesses aesthetic.

Elegant updating

Part of getting a new office fitout is taking huge amount of gratification from throwing out all of the horrible shabby decorations that have been there up until now. You can be as elegant or as cutting edge as you like with your design, the fact is is that you can control all of the design elements yourself. Creative control is a powerful thing!

Clients will be impressed

If you are a business that has clients coming into your office to do business, then you will need to ensure that you have a office space that suits your style. It simply doesn’t do to have clients coming into your office and seeing shabby furniture, crummy bookshelves, or just plain old tatty furniture. You need to ensure that your office fit out suits your clientele, and the style of business that you are hoping to secure.

Employee morale

Last but definitely not least is the benefit to employee morale. The benefit to employee morale is a huge part of getting a new office fitout. Staff and people feel that you are invested in their enjoyment in the space if you spend time and money on getting the office painted and refurbished. Employees will feel a lot happier about coming to work every day in a funky, fresh environment and will be more attached to the workplace.

Outdoor Living & Furniture Trends 2016

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It goes without saying that Australians love spending time outdoors. As a result, outdoor living areas are now considered a crucial extension of the home, as more Aussies utilise the great weather all year round for entertaining close friends and family. Here we’ll discuss best practices to maintain the integrity of your home while creating that perfect outdoor area for you and your guests.

Seamless Flow

Although not a completely new idea, blending your indoor area with the outdoors is definitely gaining in popularity amongst Aussie homeowners. The idea is to create that seamless transition by choosing the right outdoor furniture, accessories and landscape to compliment the interior design and overall theme of your home. It’s important to try an enhance the connection between the two by fusing the natural beauty of the outdoor garden with the theme and comfort of your indoors.

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Furniture Materials

As more Aussies opt for entertaining outside, modern outdoor furniture manufacturers are doing their best to develop new designs that meet our needs; both practically and aesthetically. It’s therefore no surprise that mixed material designs are growing in popularity as they enable a unique contrast, promoting a smoother dynamic blend, and therefore ensuring a smoother transition between your indoor and outdoor living area. Popular combinations include; resin and wood, iron and wood, or teak and stainless steel.

Tip: Materials like stone, wood and wicker – which give off a more natural vibe – go particularly well with vintage and eco inspired designs.

The mixed material approach truly offers greater flexibility, allowing people the freedom to experiment a little and roam from typical and exact matching styles, providing a diverse range of stylish alternatives for a seamless integration. As a result, this trend is firmly making its stance amongst Aussie homeowners around the nation.

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Accessories

Adding plants and other accessories is a simple way to make your outdoors feel homely and add that extra dimension of natural beauty, to further blur those lines between your indoor and outdoor space. By adding some visually appealing pots, a wall feature or even some artwork can have a dramatic impact on the overall feel of your space. With regards to outdoor furniture, adding a few colourful weather-resistant cushions here and there can cost-effectively breathe new life into existing furniture, meaning you don’t have to spend a fortune for noticeable impact.

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This is post was brought to you by Cosh Living, Australia.

If you’re looking for the latest in modern furniture designs, inspired by the latest global trends, then be sure to contact one of the in-house specialists at Cosh Living at one of their beautifully presented stores around Australia.

For more info, please visit www.coshliving.com.au

Projecting the right image: What does your office say about you?

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Your office is the environment that will make or break you for your working productivity. That is regardless of whether your office is meant to be open for the general public, or if it is solely for internal use. The projected image for an office can say a lot. Many of the world’s top organisations have realized this and have put it to good use. Others who have failed to recognize this, struggle to understand how something as simple as an office can hold back their organization. We share some considerations that businesses need to keep in mind with the development of their office.

The office will make a good impression with clients.

If you are required to do client facing at your office, you need to have an office that will impress the clients that you are welcoming in. This is from the location to the doorways, security, staff mannerisms and the interior design aesthetics of the office. In short, the office needs to also sell your credibility to those that you will be selling to. Regardless of your budget size, the office space that you present must offer its unique wow factor. Whether that is from the office in your own home or at the top of a skyscraper in the central business district.

The attention to detail with the office needs to be taken into account. Also, the office theme that is being projected to the client or visitor will reflect the image that they have of you. Does your business win awards? And if so, where are they being displayed? Do you work with any blue chip organisations? And if so, can we see examples in any publications? Does your business have an impressive waiting area? Is the interior décor such as desks and office chairs modern and convey the professional image you’re intending to achieve?

If you have employees, is your office employee friendly?

One of the strongest influential factors with having a good office is the employee friendliness of the office. The more friendly it is to employees, the more productive the employees will be and it will yield more revenue and profits for your business. Below are a few considerations for employees.

The office is easy to commute to and from their home

Employees are with you for the sole purpose of earning an income and trading their time and expertise to do so. If your office is not easy to commute to by public or private transportation, this may see the employees being subject to lateness, tiredness and additional stress.

Windows and airflow

It is an underestimated thing, but people value light and good airflow through area that they are working in. Many people will be working indoors. Create a brighter office space with enhanced natural lighting options such as Skylights and Velux windows, and ensure the work space offers a good airflow.

Good workspaces that enhance their productivity

This is critical to the success of your company. Both you and your employees generally want to do well. And they will if they are given the working area that they can thrive in.

Provide break out spaces for lunch and relaxation

You must be able to offer your employees the flexibility with bringing their home lunches. This means the office should have an area where employees can eat away from their desk and to heat their food with a microwave. Ideally, if you can provide a cafeteria, it would be ideal.

Leverage the systems, software and hardware that will enhance productivity

All businesses need to have a ‘get with the times’ mentality. The better the system that they use across the organisation, the better the organisation can function that will boost productivity and profits for the business. For example, companies should encourage the use of:

· Mobile friendly and smart technology

· The development or integration of in-house or third party applications

· The implementation of cutting edge software

· The investment of cutting edge hardware, such as Apple Mac computers

· The investment in collaboration and telephony software.

Whether we like it or not, the image of the office will reflect onto the business’ image. Whether it is in your daily workflow or if you choose to have visitors come around. Seek inspiration from organisations who have setup their offices in a way that spurs productivity for the business.