Daily Biz Solutions

- as European e-Privacy directive comes into force –

Specialist business insurer Hiscox is warning UK businesses that the uncertainty around the enforcement of the European e-Privacy directive, which is due to become law on 25 May, should not stop businesses developing a clear policy on cookie use.

The new legislation means that businesses with websites could be required to gain explicit consent from visitors to their sites in order to use cookies to track online activity. In turn, online users have more control over the data businesses are able to gather about their activity. If businesses fail to ask for informed consent from users, penalties can be enforced by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Alan Thomas, head of technology & media at Hiscox, commented: “There is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the enforcement of the new European e-Privacy directive but the message to companies using cookies is clear: don’t allow a half-baked approach to cookie consent expose your company to prosecution.

“This is an emerging risk for businesses, particularly in the media and technology sectors, and it is important that they develop a clear policy when it comes to cookie use. Although this industry is already tech savvy and are advanced in their understanding and use of cookies, they shouldn’t be complacent.”

The ICO (www.ico.gov.uk) has issued guidelines on its website to help support businesses including:

• Audit your website to establish the type of cookie and technology it uses
• Understand how the website’s cookies work and how intrusive they are for users
• Decide how visitors will be asked for consent on the site.

Hiscox’s Alan Thomas continued: “In time it may be that browser based consent, where users simply permit their browser at the outset to download cookies for whatever site they are on, might remove the need for individual sites to seek user consent. However, the situation is unclear and we are working to understand what the new rules will mean in practice for businesses from a risk and insurance perspective.”

Are you wondering if you should consider working with an advertising agency? If you want to grow your business, hiring a firm staffed by experts who really “get” what’s involved in effectively promoting a business can pay off very quickly. Here are three of the best reasons that you might want to consider hiring a professional advertising agency to work with your business.

1. Focus on Running Your Business – When you hire an advertising agency, you can spend your time and effort focused on operating your business rather than trying to figure out how to advertise and promote it. By letting professionals focus on your marketing, you can take care of those aspects of business operations that truly must be handled by you without diluting your attention.

2. Advertising Expertise – Business owners are often too close to their own operations in order to figure out how to best promote them. When you have a team of advertising agency professionals working on your behalf, they can focus on what really needs to be done to promote your company in an objective manner. While business owners sometimes make advertising decisions based on emotion, agency experts will make marketing decisions based on their experience and expertise.

3. Buying Power – Because advertising agencies typically work with multiple clients, they often have more leverage than small business owners do when it comes time to negotiate for the best advertising rates. They know what fair market value really is for the media time, promotional products, printing and other marketing items that you need to purchase.

Robertsdale, AL (Quality Filters, Inc.) June 20, 2011 – Quality Filters, Inc., has been named as the 2011 Innovator Award recipient for the state of Alabama by the Southern Growth Policies Board. This prestigious award is presented to one private-sector manufacturing company in each of Southern Growth’s member states in recognition of success achieved as a result of adopting innovative manufacturing practices, as well as a focus on continuing innovation in manufacturing.

“In our nearly 30 years of operations, Quality Filters has grown from a small manufacturing company to a competitive presence in the national marketplace. Our commitment to continuous improvement and ongoing emphasis on coming up with new and better ways to meet the needs of customers with high quality, cost-effective products – today and into the future – has uniquely positioned the company to take the lead in adopting innovative manufacturing practices in the indoor air quality filtration industry,” said Rich Scott, President of Quality Filters, Inc.

The 2011 Innovator Award for Alabama was presented to Quality Filters at the Chairman’s Conference of the Southern Growth Policies Board in Roanoke, Virginia in June of 2011. The prestigious Innovator Award is based on nominations and selection by an outside evaluation panel. In order to be considered, companies must have incorporated innovative manufacturing technologies and processes into their core business operations and operate with a focus on continuing innovation.

About Quality Filters, Inc.

Quality Filters, Inc. manufactures a full line of products for the HVAC industry, including high quality pleated and grille air filters, inserts, rings and accessories. In addition to HVAC products, the company also produces a large array of gas phase and paint Filtration products. Quality Filters, Inc. is based in Robertsdale, Alabama. To learn more, visit http://qualityfilters.com.

Guest Post by Jim Gates, CAFS, Quality Filters

When considering effective ways to ensure a clean and safe work environment, indoor air pollution is an important situation. Office spaces are often cramped, and public places are ideal environments for bacteria and allergens to take hold. One effective method of combating airborne particles and dust is to purchase and install high quality air filters for your office, and make sure to change them out on a regular basis.

Health Benefits of High Quality Air Conditioner Filters

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), 60 million Americans suffer from allergies or asthma. Chances are that someone in your office has allergies and every extra step you can take to have a cleaner air space could improve productivity, and even give your office the advantage in hiring top-level employees. Everyone deserves to breathe better. The chances of being exposed to dangerous pollutants is high enough when people are commuting and outside, choosing a quality air conditioner filter is a small, but highly effective, step to ensure their air inside is your office as clean as possible.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 90 percent of Americans spend most of their time in an office environment, and that air pollutants can be much worse than outside. Choosing an efficient and strong air filter will greatly reduce the pollutants to which office workers are exposed. High quality filters will filter out animal dander, dust pollen and dust mites and the best ones will even capture hazardous chemical vapors, bacteria, and viruses and prevent them from reentering the air in an office.

High quality air filters also have the ability to filter out airborne dust, bacteria and viruses. This is exceptionally important in public places like offices where if one person is sick, the entire office can quickly become sick and bacteria and viruses can resurface and re-infect. Utilizing high quality, multi-layered air filters helps to comb allergens from the air can make a working environment much more habitable and pleasant for those that suffer from seasonal and indoor allergies.

Financial Benefits of Proper Air Filter Maintenance

In addition to health benefits, there are financial benefits to having high quality filters and changing them regularly. Time lost to breathing problems and sickness can be decreased, and if people breathe better, they generally feel better.

Choosing the Best Air Filters for Your Office

High quality air filters capable of reducing most asthma and allergy triggers are at least MERV 11. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. Carbon filters are also very effective in capturing smoke and further controlling odors and vapors that can irritate those with asthma. The best filters are multi-layered, offering several stages to combat pollutants and vapors. The most layers a filter has, the better the protection it offers.

Practical Solution to Improve Office Air Quality

You should change the air conditioner filters in your office on a regular basis and according to specifications to allow heating and air-conditioning units to work more efficiently than if they are not changed properly. Clogged filters will force units to work harder and therefore drain more energy, and units with weak or ineffective filters will allow dust and dirt to pass through to the motor of the heating and air unit and can damage the unit and shorten its lifespan. Signing up for an automatic filter replacement program is a great way to keep up with changing the air filters in your office on a regular basis.

About the Author

Jim Gates, CAFS, is the brand manager for Quality Filters, Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of high quality home and commercial air filters. The company’s products are available online at BuyFilters.com.

Opening a new business can be costly, especially if it is a location-based business. The costs of furniture can really add up, regardless of whether you’re opening a new bar or restaurant, or a business with a lobby or waiting room. All you know is that you want something that is going to be interesting and keep guests’ attention, but you don’t want to break the bank just for something that looks good.

With the current push for businesses to go “green,” there are now many resources for you to find used furniture at a low price–if even anything at all. A lot of people have old furniture stored away in a StorageMart or in their basements, collecting dust. A great idea is to put an ad out online, requesting furniture equipment relevant to your business. You could find some great deals on items that might simply need to be repainted or cleaned.

The most versatile piece of furniture you can find is a table or counter. Because they serve so many purposes, you can most likely find a way to work it into your business. Bar or restaurant owners can use old counters to create a bar for customers or a server station for servers to keep trays and other items. For other types of businesses, counters can be cut down and put against a wall to create an eye-catching display with informational materials for guests to view. All you’ll need is some paint or stain to refurbish the old counter into something new that fits your decor.

Old couches and chairs also play an important role in any business. If your restaurant gets busy and has a waiting period, providing comfortable waiting area seating is sure to keep guests patient. This is also great for waiting rooms and lounges in any business. Old couches can be reupholstered by a local business that specializes in upholstery. Or, if your budget’s too tight for reupholstering furniture, you can find a variety of slip covers that will suit your decor and save you money.

It is important to realize that not only is reviving old furniture for a new use saving you money, but it is great for the environment. It reduces the amount of waste that goes into a landfill somewhere, and reduces the need to use resources to make new furniture. So by reusing and refurbishing old products, you are doing your part to save the planet.

There are a variety of resources online for you to find furniture to suit your needs. By tapping your resources, you will soon find that your small expenses now can lead to great profits in the future.